Passenger Ferry Fire in the Philippines: Dozens Missing, Several Dead
On September 10, 2026, a passenger ferry caught fire off the western coast of the Philippines, leaving several people dead and dozens missing. The ferry, MV June Aster, experienced a blaze that began on Wednesday evening and was extinguished by the following day. Although the vessel remained afloat, it was listing significantly. The fire’s cause remains unknown, but a survivor suggested it started in the cargo hold.
Coast Guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab confirmed the ongoing search for the missing. Rescue efforts have resulted in the recovery of 43 individuals. A comprehensive search effort is underway, involving a Coast Guard ship, high-speed response boats, a military vessel, private volunteers, and local fishermen. A radio broadcast alerted nearby ships, and coordination with coastal villages is in place, anticipating rescuers may find passengers who have drifted ashore.
Images of the rescue showed Coast Guard personnel providing life jackets to survivors as the ferry burned nearby. Survivors were transferred to smaller boats and taken to safety in shallower waters. The ferry had initially set sail from Manila and was nearing Coron in the Palawan province when it sent a distress signal after encountering bad weather and strong sea currents.
The vessel was located approximately 4 nautical miles from Turda in Coron when the distress signal was sent. However, the challenging sea conditions increased the distance to 7.68 nautical miles from Turda. Rescuers deployed drift-modeling tools to determine where currents might have carried the missing individuals.
A total of 134 people were onboard the ferry, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members. There is presently no information on whether any foreigners were involved. Ferries are a commonly used form of transportation throughout the Philippine archipelago, but accidents are frequent due to factors such as storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and inadequate safety regulation enforcement. One of the country’s worst maritime disasters occurred in 1987 when the Dona Paz ferry sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, resulting in over 4,300 fatalities.