Philippines ferry fire kills 5, leaves 87 missing off Palawan

At least five people were killed and 87 remain unaccounted for after the MV June Aster caught fire off Coron in the Philippines. Forty-two people have been rescued, while authorities continue search and rescue operations.

New Delhi: At least five people have died and 87 remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fire off the coast of Palawan in the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.

The fire broke out aboard the MV June Aster on Wednesday evening, about 2.2 km offshore near Coron, a popular tourist destination in Palawan. The vessel had departed from Manila and was travelling towards Coron when it caught fire.

The ferry’s manifest listed 134 people on board, 117 passengers and 17 crew members. So far, 42 people have been rescued, including 38 passengers and four crew members.

Footage released by the........

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