• The MV June Aster ferry that caught fire on Wednesday near a tourist hotspot in the Philippine province of Palawan. AFP
    The MV June Aster ferry that caught fire on Wednesday near a tourist hotspot in the Philippine province of Palawan. AFP
  • Locals help people disembark the burning boat. AFP
    Locals help people disembark the burning boat. AFP
  • Members of the Philippine coast guard work to rescue a passenger in the water. Reuters
    Members of the Philippine coast guard work to rescue a passenger in the water. Reuters
  • Flames and smoke rise from the vessel. Reuters
    Flames and smoke rise from the vessel. Reuters
  • Passengers are rescued from the boat. EPA
    Passengers are rescued from the boat. EPA
  • MV June Aster burns as flames and smoke rise after a fire broke out on the ferry, off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on September 9, 2026. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
    MV June Aster burns as flames and smoke rise after a fire broke out on the ferry, off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on September 9, 2026. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
  • The burnt out boat after the fire was extinguished. AFP
    The burnt out boat after the fire was extinguished. AFP

At least five dead and 87 missing in Philippines ferry fire


At least five people have died and 87 are missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off Coron in the western Philippines.

The fire broke out aboard the June Aster ferry at around 6.45pm local time on Wednesday in waters off the island of Coron, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

The vessel had departed from Manila and was travelling to Coron when it caught fire.

The ferry's manifest of 134 people included 117 passengers and 17 crew.

Coast Guard representative Noemie Cayabyab said 42 people had been rescued, including 38 passengers and four crew members.

Five people have died and 87 were unaccounted for, the Coast Guard said.

Ms Cayabyab stressed the figures could change as search and rescue operations continued.

Coast Guard footage showed the June Aster ferry engulfed in flames, while responders assisted survivors and handled casualties.

Search and rescue teams from the Coast Guard and other local agencies were deployed to the area following the fire.

The burnt-out ferry after the fire was extinguished. AFP
The burnt-out ferry after the fire was extinguished. AFP

The Coast Guard said the cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Authorities continued efforts on Thursday to locate people still missing from the vessel.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the operation was continuing and appealed for information from families with relatives aboard the ferry.

Updated: September 10, 2026, 7:30 AM