Philippine rescuers finally boarded the charred MV June Aster to search for dozens of missing passengers, more than 40 hours after a deadly fire broke out on the ferry.Five people have been confirmed dead, 43 have so far been rescued, and 84 remain missing. The ferry was travelling from the capital Manila to the tourist island of Coron in Palawan province when the fire broke out on Wednesday evening.Smoke rising from the charred MV June Aster (AP)Rescuers were unable to enter the vessel earlier because of thick smoke and extreme heat. Earlier, it was listed on the passenger manifest that the vessel was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when it caught fire. On Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard said two people previously listed as missing were found not to have boarded the ferry, bringing the number of missing to 84 on Friday from an earlier 86. Coast guard spokesperson, Noemie Cayabyab, told the BBC: “The biggest challenge for us really is to penetrate the ship [as] there is still a visible, thick smoke.”Earlier, she told reporters: “No matter how we try to push through, high temperatures and toxic smoke remain a severe risk to our personnel.”Officials eventually boarded the vessel at about 11.30am local time on Friday.The coast guard has expanded the search area, deploying one of its largest ships and has also added divers and nurses to the search team. Authorities and responders board a vessel to assist ongoing search and rescue operations involving the MV June Aster ferry, which caught fire off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, 11 September 2026 (Reuters)Preliminary interviews with survivors suggest the fire began in the cargo hold, where containers and goods are stored. Some passengers were also reportedly not wearing life jackets, authorities said. One survivor identified by News5 as Arnulfo Nokki Villanueva told the outlet: “The fire quickly spread. That’s when I dropped to the ground and my back was burned. “I wanted to get a life jacket but failed to get one because people were stepping on me. People were in panic.”He said he eventually escaped by jumping out of the window. Janelle Navawa, 48, cries while speaking to a relative on the phone as she waits for information about family members who are among those missing following a fire aboard the MV June Aster ferry off the coast of Palawan, in Coron, Philippines, 11 September 2026 (Reuters)Richard Marceliano, one of the survivors, told GMA News that he saw a small amount of smoke that quickly grew into a raging fire, spreading through the ferry within seconds. He said he and other passengers spent nearly two hours in the sea before they were rescued. Another survivor Roland Lerma also described the panic in the burning vessel. “When I was on the floor, people were trampling me,” the 30-year-old told the BBC. He eventually jumped into the sea and said he saw children doing the same. “It was cold [in the sea]. If the rescue had been delayed, I would definitely have died,” he said. The ferry’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries, said: “Our hearts remain with the affected families, and we will not rest until all individuals are accounted for.” A rescue boat is docked in Coron, Palawan province, western Philippines, Friday, 11 September 2026, after the ferry MV June Aster caught fire off Coron (AP)The maritime authority is investigating the cause, including possible discrepancies in the passenger manifest, cargo loading and crew emergency procedures.The Maritime Industry Authority, citing accounts from survivors, said two successive explosions were heard inside the vessel before the fire broke out. The Coast Guard said the ferry had a capacity of 330 people and was carrying five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift, a pickup truck and mainly cargo goods.Meanwhile, outside the Manila office of shipowner Atienza Inter-Island Ferries, anxious relatives of missing passengers waited for news of their loved ones. Lira Daco, left, wipes tears beside husband Menandro as they wait for news of their missing daughter in Coron, Palawan province, western Philippines, Friday, 11 September 2026, days after the ferry MV June Aster caught fire off Coron (AP)Evelyn Umpad, 64, said she went to the office after repeated calls seeking information about her son and daughter-in-law went unanswered. The couple had been travelling to Taytay, Palawan, to buy land.“We kept calling but nobody was answering. They took my number and said they would call back, but no one contacted us, so we came here ourselves to find out the situation,” Ms Umpad said. “My appeal is for them to take action and keep us updated.” Sea accidents are relatively common in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands that is frequently battered by monsoon rains and typhoons, making travel conditions hazardous.Past accidents have also been linked to factors including poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations. In January, a ferry carrying more than 300 people sank off the coast of Baluk-baluk island, killing at least 18 people.