Philippine rescuers boarded the MV June Aster on Friday, more than 40 hours after a fire broke out, searching for dozens of missing people. The blaze has claimed five lives and left 43 rescued, with 84 still unaccounted for. High temperatures and toxic fumes from the cargo hold, where the fire is believed to have started, continue to pose significant risks to rescue personnel.
The incident highlights ongoing risks in maritime transport and the challenges of emergency response in difficult conditions, potentially impacting travel safety and insurance costs for similar vessels.
Philippine rescuers finally boarded the MV June Aster ferry on Friday morning, more than 40 hours after a deadly fire began, in a search for dozens of missing people. The blaze has claimed five lives, with 43 people rescued and 84 still unaccounted for. Photos shared by the coastguard showed smoke still emanating from the vessel, which was en route from Manila to the island of Coron.
Officials had struggled to board the hull since search and rescue operations commenced on Wednesday due to the intense heat and toxic fumes. The coastguard stated that penetrating the ship remained a severe risk to personnel. Preliminary interviews with survivors suggest the fire originated in the cargo hold, where containers and goods are stored. Some passengers were reportedly not wearing life vests.
A survivor, Roland Lerma, recounted the panic on board when the fire erupted, describing people trampling him as he scrambled to escape. He eventually leaped into the sea and was later rescued, noting that delayed rescue would have been fatal. The ferry, built in 2002, held valid safety certificates and passed an inspection in March. The maritime authority is investigating potential discrepancies in the manifest, cargo loading, and crew emergency response protocols. The ferry's operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries, has pledged full cooperation with the investigation.