A fire on a passenger ferry in the Philippines leaves at least 5 dead and dozens missing

At least five people are dead while 87 others remain missing after a fire broke out in a passenger ferry in waters near Coron in the Philippines’ western Palawan province, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Thursday.

A fire broke out on a passenger ferry in waters off the western Philippines, leaving dozens of people missing, the coast guard said Thursday. At least five people were killed.

In this image provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a survivor is assisted as he alights from a small boat after being rescued from a burning ferry off Palawan province, Philippines on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2026. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

In this image taken from video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, remains of ferry MV June Aster that caught fire off Palawan province, western Philippines on Thursday Sept. 10, 2026. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

This photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, shows remains of ferry MV June Aster that caught fire off Palawan province, western Philippines on Thursday Sept. 10, 2026. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)