World
Rescuers Finally Enter Burned Philippine Ferry as Dozens Remain Missing
By Today News Hours Editorial Desk
More than 40 hours after fire broke out on the MV June Aster, Philippine rescue teams managed to board the charred vessel on Friday in search of dozens of missing passengers. Five people have been confirmed dead, and 43 have been rescued, with many currently receiving hospital treatment. As of Friday, 84 people remain unaccounted for.
The Philippine Coast Guard released images on Friday morning showing smoke still rising from the ferry, which had been sailing from Manila to Coron Island. By Friday afternoon, the smoke appeared to have diminished significantly.
Rescue operations, which began Wednesday, were repeatedly hampered by intense heat and toxic fumes that prevented crews from safely entering the ship's hull. Officials finally boarded the vessel at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time (03:30 GMT) on Friday.
Coast Guard spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab told the BBC that penetrating the ship remained the primary obstacle due to persistent thick smoke. She had earlier told local media that high temperatures and toxic smoke posed a severe risk to rescue personnel regardless of their approach.
Smoke from incomplete combustion typically contains dangerous concentrations of carbon monoxide, which poses lethal risks to anyone exposed.
The number of missing individuals was revised from an earlier count of 86 to 84, after authorities determined that two passengers listed on the ship's manifest had never actually boarded the vessel.
Cayabyab said search efforts have been expanded, with the Coast Guard deploying one of its largest vessels and issuing radio broadcasts to nearby ships. Divers and nurses are also assisting in the search. A local diver based in Coron told the BBC his team remained on standby, awaiting instructions from Coast Guard officials. Additionally, an aerial survey of the waters surrounding the disaster site was conducted.
According to Cayabyab, firefighting efforts are set to resume, beginning with the ferry's cargo hold, which preliminary interviews with survivors suggest was where the fire originated. Officials also noted that some passengers were not wearing life vests at the time of the incident.
Survivor Roland Lerma, 30, described chaotic scenes aboard the burning vessel Wednesday evening. He recalled falling to the floor and being trampled by fleeing passengers before crawling to find his footing and leaping into the sea. Lerma said he spotted children who had also jumped into the water, though he could not identify them in the darkness. He described the water as cold and said he believed he would have died had rescue efforts been delayed further.
The ferry had departed from Manila and was approaching its destination in Coron, a popular tourist destination in Palawan province, when the fire broke out. The Philippines' maritime authority is now investigating the circumstances of the incident.
According to the Palawan Daily, the vessel, built in 2002, held valid safety certifications and had passed an enforcement inspection in March. However, investigators are examining possible discrepancies in the ship's manifest, the integrity of cargo loading procedures, and the crew's adherence to emergency response protocols.
Atienza Interisland Ferries, the company operating the vessel, has committed to fully cooperating with the investigation. In a statement issued Thursday, the company said its focus remains with the affected families and pledged not to rest until all individuals are accounted for.