Death toll in Philippine ferry fire rises to 35
In the Philippines, the death toll from a fire on the MV June Aster ferry has risen to 35. The coast guard recovered another 30 bodies from the vessel’s remains, BBC News reports.
The fire broke out on Wednesday as the ferry was approaching its destination, the tourist town of Coron, after a voyage from Manila. There were 117 passengers and 17 crew members on board, more than 130 people in total. Rescuers saved 43 people, many of whom required hospital treatment. More than 50 people have still not been found.
Toxic fumes hampered the search
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, other bodies may remain on board. Rescuers were unable to enter the vessel until Friday because of toxic fumes and high temperatures that persisted after the fire.
Coast guard spokesperson Commodore Noemi Cayabyab said that most of the bodies were found in the ferry’s sleeping area. The vessel was on a 22-hour voyage. According to her, the relevant services are carrying out the recovery and identification of the remains in accordance with established procedures.
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Circumstances of the fire are under investigation
Preliminary interviews with survivors indicate that the fire may have started in the cargo hold, the coast guard said. It also reported that some passengers were not wearing life jackets.
One of the survivors told the BBC that panicked screams rang out on the vessel after the fire began, and that he was trampled by people while trying to get out. The Philippine maritime administration is investigating the circumstances of the incident.
The ferry, built in 2002, had valid safety certificates and underwent an inspection in March. As Palawan Daily reported, investigators are also examining possible discrepancies in the vessel’s manifest, the propriety of cargo loading, and the crew’s actions during the emergency. The vessel’s operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries, said it was ready to fully cooperate with the investigation.
