MV June Aster ship fire
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| MV June Aster ship fire | |
|---|---|
 MV June Aster on fire | |
| Details | |
| Date | September 9, 2026 |
| Location | Off the coast of Coron, Palawan, Philippines |
| Statistics | |
| Passengers | 117 |
| Crew | 17 |
| Deaths | 76 |
| Missing | 13 |
On the evening of September 9, 2026, the Philippine passenger-cargo vessel MV June Aster caught fire in the waters off Coron, Palawan. The ferry was carrying 115 passengers and 17 crew members when the fire broke out.[1] The fire was reported at around 6:45 p.m. PHT (UTC+8) approximately 1.2 nautical miles (2.2 km; 1.4 mi) northeast of Barangay Marcilla in Coron.[2] At least 76 people on board were killed, while 43 were rescued and 13 remain missing.
Background
[edit]The June Aster is a passenger-cargo vessel operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., a Philippine shipping company.[3][4] It passed a safety check conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in March 2026.[5] At the time, the Filipino Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) recorded that the June Aster had a gross tonnage of 490.49, a capacity of 277 passengers and 21 crew, and was built in 2002.[4]
Before the fire, the vessel was used on the Manila–Coron–El Nido, Batangas–Puerto Galera and Batangas–Coron routes.[6] In September 2025, it ran aground off Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro during a typhoon, resulting in the rescue of its 16 crew.[7]
Coron is a municipality in the northern part of Palawan and is part of the Calamian Islands, together with Busuanga, Culion and Linapacan.[8] Coron is also a tourist destination known for island-hopping, diving and other marine activities.[9]
Incident
[edit]The June Aster departed Manila on the evening of September 8, 2026, and was expected to arrive in Coron the next evening.[10] On the evening of September 9, the ship caught fire in the waters off Coron. The PCG said the ferry was approximately 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla when the incident occurred.[2] The fire was reported at around 6:45 p.m PHT. The vessel had 117 passengers and 17 crew members aboard, according to its manifest.[11] Its cargo included five motorcycles, an electric car, a forklift, and a pick-up truck.[12] The vessel had departed from Baseco in Manila and was bound for Coron when the fire broke out.[13]
The PCG responded after receiving a report of the burning vessel. Other ships in the area, the Coast Guard Sub-Station in Turda, the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and local fishermen also assisted in the response.[11] Video released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the ferry engulfed in flames. Authorities had not determined the cause of the fire as of September 10.[14] Due to strong currents, the ship's position shifted by some 3.68 nautical miles from its initial location[15] before running aground.[16] Due to the flames, the PCG was unable to board the ship until the fire was put out on the morning of September 11.[17][18]
Search and rescue
[edit]The PCG led the search and rescue operation following the fire. Other vessels, the Coast Guard Sub-Station Turda, the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and local fishermen took part in the response. Forty-two people were rescued from the vessel and brought to the covered court in Barangay Turda. Five people were reported dead, while authorities continued searching for people who were still unaccounted for.[11] On September 10, the number of people rescued increased to 43.[19][20] Thirteen crew members were also rescued.[21] Some survivors were not wearing life vests during the incident.[22]
Two people initially listed as missing were later found to have missed the ship's departure, putting the initial number of unaccounted at 84.[1] Among the passengers were two Chilean nationals who survived.[23] Atienza Shipping said four crew members were missing, while the ship's captain, identified as Roel Sarmiento, survived, although the PCG said he was not in its list of survivors.[24][25]
After the fire was put out, at least 30 bodies were recovered from the vessel on September 11.[26] The next day, the remains of 41 victims and one dog were recovered, raising the death toll to 76.[27] Authorities prepared temporary graves to store bodies until they could be identified.[28] The bodies of the 71 people recovered from the ship were described as "totally charred" and required DNA identification.[29] The Philippine National Police processed the remains at a makeshift laboratory set up in Borac Port.[30]
Medical response
[edit]The rescued passengers were brought to local medical facilities. Seven of the survivors were taken to a hospital in Culion, a neighboring island, for medical treatment.[22] The search and rescue operation continued under the direction of the PCG.[31]
Investigation
[edit]Authorities had not determined the cause of the fire as of September 10, 2026.[2] Preliminary interviews with survivors indicated that the fire started in the cargo hold, according to the PCG.[22] Survivors said the fire was preceded by a loud explosion that immediately shut off the ship's electricity and generated smoke before the flames rapidly spread.[6][32]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Ramirez, Renalyn (September 11, 2026). "Missing in Coron ferry fire down to 84; 2 passengers missed trip". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Fire hits passenger ship with over 100 on board in waters off Coron". GMA News Online. September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc". Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- 1 2 "Philippine Nautical Highway Matrix" (PDF). Maritime Industry Authority. April 21, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "PCG: Shipping company may face liability over deadly MV June Aster fire". GMA News. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- 1 2 "Thick smoke, rough seas hamper search for 86 missing MV June Aster passengers". ABS-CBN. September 10, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ Talabucon, Hanna Camella. "The chronology, vessel history, and final voyage of the MV June Aster". Palawan Daily News. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Coron, Palawan". West Philippine Sea Socioeconomic and Biophysical Report 2024 (PDF) (Report). Palawan Council for Sustainable Development. 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Coron". Department of Tourism. June 17, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "PCG: Efforts focused on finding more survivors as many questions surround MV June Aster fire". GMA News. September 10, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Datu, Dennis (September 9, 2026). "5 confirmed dead after ferry catches fire off Coron, Palawan". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Palawan ferry fire death toll jumps to 35". Rappler. September 11, 2026. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ Lema, Karen; Corrales, Nestor (September 10, 2026). "Search expands after Philippine ferry fire kills five and leaves dozens missing". Reuters. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Ferry fire off northern Palawan leaves five dead, says Philippine Coast Guard". The Straits Times. September 10, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "A fire on a passenger ferry in the Philippines leaves at least 5 dead and dozens missing". AP News. September 10, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Philippine ferry fire death toll climbs to 76 as identification process begins". France 24. September 12, 2026. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Philippine rescuers board ferry 40 hours after blaze began". BBC News. September 11, 2026. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Burnt bodies 'observed' as MV June Aster fire declared out —PCG". GMA News. September 11, 2026. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- ↑ Cerojano, Teresa (September 10, 2026). "Fire on passenger ferry in Philippines leaves dozens missing and at least 5 dead". Associated Press. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Philippines ferry fire leaves 87 missing, 5 dead". The Business Standard. September 10, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Philippine ferry fire death toll jumps to 76: Coast guard". The Straits Times. September 12, 2026. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Rivera, Virma Simonette; Ng, Kelly (September 10, 2026). "Five dead and 86 missing as 'heartbreaking' fire breaks out on Philippines ferry". BBC News. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ "'People were trampling me': Philippine ferry fire survivor recalls narrow escape". BBC News. September 10, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ Datu, Dennis (September 10, 2026). "Ship owner assures assistance to victims of MV June Aster fire". ABS-CBN. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ Cariaso, Bella (September 13, 2026). "Ferry fire death toll rises to 76". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Mangaluz, Jean (September 11, 2026). "MV June Aster death toll hits 35 in ship fire incident near Coron". GMA News. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- ↑ Bonzo, Lyjah Tiffany (September 12, 2026). "MV June Aster death toll rises to 76; remains of dog recovered". GMA News. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "41 more bodies found aboard burned Coron ferry, toll now at 76". The Philippine Star. September 13, 2026. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ "MV June Aster tragedy: 5 of 76 victims identified". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 13, 2026. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Unidentified MV June Aster victims to be temporarily buried in mass grave". ABS-CBN. September 13, 2026. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Coron ship incident: Hotlines released for families with missing members". GMA News Online. September 10, 2026. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ Talabucon, Hanna Camella (September 10, 2026). "Five dead, 43 rescued, 86 still missing as survivors recall sudden blast and sudden blackout in lower deck accommodations". Palawan Daily News. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
