Philippine rescuers have boarded the MV June Aster ferry in search of dozens of missing people, more than 40 hours after a deadly fire began. Five people have been found dead, and 43 people have been rescued, with many receiving hospital treatment. Eighty-four people remain missing.
Officials struggled to board the hull since operations began on Wednesday due to toxic fumes and heat. They finally boarded the vessel at approximately 03:30 GMT on Friday. The coastguard's spokeswoman, Noemie Cayabyab, stated that penetrating the ship remains a challenge due to visible, thick smoke, high temperatures, and toxic smoke.
The ferry was travelling from Manila to the island of Coron when the fire erupted on Wednesday evening. The Philippine Coast Guard conducted an aerial survey and deployed one of its largest ships, along with divers and nurses, to widen the search area. The plan is to resume firefighting efforts, starting from the cargo hold, where preliminary interviews with survivors suggest the fire began.
The Philippines' maritime authority is investigating the incident. The ferry, built in 2002, held valid safety certificates and passed an inspection in March, but investigators are examining potential manifest discrepancies, cargo loading integrity, and crew emergency response protocols.