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The Philippine Coast Guard reported that five people died and 86 remained missing after a fire engulfed the MV June Aster ferry off the coast of Coron in Palawan province on the evening of September 9, 2026. The vessel, which had departed from Manila bound for the tourist destination, was carrying 134 people including 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the blaze started around 6:45 p.m. local time near Barangay Marcilla, about 2.2 kilometres from shore. Rescue teams saved 43 survivors as the ship drifted several nautical miles amid strong currents, while crews worked to extinguish the flames that consumed much of the ferry. The authority has described the situation as ongoing with resources fully committed.
Coast Guard Captain Noemi Cayabyab told local radio that the manifest accounted for all aboard but noted the casualty and rescue figures could shift as search efforts progressed through the night and into September 10. Of those pulled from the water, the majority were passengers though exact counts varied slightly in initial briefings from the authority. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed all available resources to the scene, where bad weather and waves hampered operations even as local fishermen joined in pulling people to safety. Cayabyab added that the figures were live and subject to change.
Footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the ferry ablaze against the dark sky, with responders assisting survivors into boats and handling casualties. “We are now putting all available assets and resources on the area to locate the missing individuals,” Cayabyab said in a radio interview with local media. An official who helped transport some of the dead to hospital described the event as really heartbreaking, noting the proximity to port added to the tragedy.[[2]](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/crje8w9jelnyt) The spokesperson further emphasised understanding the anxiety of families awaiting updates.
The cause of the fire was under investigation, with no early details available on how it began or the identities of those who perished. Cayabyab added that teams had not yet interviewed the rescued to gather further accounts, as efforts focused first on locating the unaccounted for and fully dousing the blaze. No information has been released on whether any foreign nationals were among the passengers heading to the area known for its diving sites and World War II shipwrecks. The ferry had sent a distress signal that initiated the multi-agency response.
Sea travel forms a critical network across the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands regularly battered by monsoon rains and typhoons that can make voyages treacherous. A Lloyd’s Register Foundation report from 2024 found that the Philippines accounted for 11 percent of global passenger ferry accidents between 2002 and 2016, part of a pattern that has seen thousands of lives lost in the sector across key nations.[[3]](https://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-08/Insight%20Report%20on%20Safety%20in%20the%20Passenger%20Ferry%20Industry.pdf) The incident near the popular tourist hub of Coron highlights ongoing risks in the nation’s ferry system despite regulatory advances in recent years.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, a distress signal from the June Aster prompted the coordinated response, yet the vessel had moved nearly eight nautical miles from its first reported position by the time help arrived. Survivors were moved to an evacuation centre in a nearby village for treatment and questioning once conditions allowed. Operations were set to continue with the expectation that the toll could be revised as more information emerges from the scene. Officials continue to monitor conditions for any additional recoveries.
