Philippine officials have found several dozen more victims from the ferry fire, bringing the total death toll to 76, with dozens still missing.
On Saturday, 12 Sep 2026, the Philippine Coast Guard revealed they recovered 41 additional bodies from the ferry wreckage that caught fire violently last week, raising the total deaths to 76, while dozens remain unaccounted for.
The ferry MV June Aster carried 117 passengers and 17 crew when the fire broke out on Wednesday, 9 Sep, shortly after departing Manila, heading toward the popular tourist destination of Coron.
The Coast Guard reported on Saturday that 43 people have survived, many receiving hospital treatment, while 13 remain missing with unknown status.
Recovery of bodies has been difficult due to lingering toxic smoke and heat, preventing officials from boarding the vessel until Friday.
Geronimo Tuvilla of the Philippine Coast Guard said the urgent tasks are identifying the deceased and determining the fire’s cause.
Christine Ablana, a tourism official in Coron, said they are seeking cooperation from families to identify relatives through personal belongings and DNA testing.
Rear Admiral Noemi Kayabab, the Coast Guard spokesperson, stated the fire started in the cargo hold and quickly spread. Survivors consistently reported hearing loud explosions followed by thick smoke and rapidly spreading flames, adding that those who escaped did not have time to don life jackets.
A survivor rescued safely by a rescue boat told the BBC he heard panicked screams during the fire and was trampled by people in panic trying to escape.
The Palawan Daily newspaper reported the ferry was built in 2002, held a valid safety certificate, and passed inspections as recently as March. However, investigators are examining inconsistencies in passenger and cargo manifests as well as the crew’s emergency response procedures.
Atienza Interisland Ferries, the company operating the vessel, confirmed full cooperation with the investigation.
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Source:bbc