How many people were missing and rescued after the Palawan ferry fire?

Authorities said 84 people were missing after two names were removed from the manifest, and 43 people had been rescued. The fire killed at least five people.

What did survivors say happened when the ferry fire started near Palawan?

Survivor Richard Marceliano said he first saw a small amount of smoke that quickly became a raging fire and spread through the ferry within seconds. He said passengers remained in the sea for nearly two hours before rescue.

What details were known about the ferry and its cargo before the fire in Palawan?

The vessel was traveling from Baseco in Manila to Coron with 117 passengers and 17 crew members on board. It was also carrying five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift, a pickup truck and mostly cargo goods.

Philippine rescuers resume search for survivors of Palawan ferry fire

Listen

Summary

Philippine rescuers resumed searching off Palawan on Friday after a ferry fire killed at least five people and left 84 missing. Thick smoke from the burned vessel prevented responders from boarding, while 43 people had been rescued. The ferry was traveling from Baseco in Manila to Coron when the blaze broke out, and the cause remained unclear.

Key Facts

The Coast Guard revised the number of missing people to 84 from 86 after verifying that two people listed on the manifest were not on board.
Richard Marceliano said the fire began with a small amount of smoke that quickly turned into a raging blaze and spread through the ferry within seconds.
Passengers and survivors spent nearly two hours floating in the sea before they were rescued, according to Marceliano.
The ferry was carrying 117 passengers, 17 crew members, five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift, a pickup truck and mostly cargo goods.
The Maritime Industry Authority said survivor accounts indicated that two successive explosions were heard from inside the ship before the fire started.

By Reuters

Published Sep 11, 2026 10:52 am KST

In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, ferry MV June Aster smolders off Palawan province, western Philippines, Sept. 11, days after it caught fire. AP-Yonhap

MANILA — Philippine rescuers on Friday resumed the search for survivors of a ferry fire that killed at least five people off the western province of Palawan, with more than 80 people still missing.

Rescue operations were complicated by thick smoke still emanating from the burned vessel, preventing responders from boarding the ferry, Cayabyab, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, said.

Cayabyab said the number of missing was revised to 84 from 86 after authorities verified that two people originally listed on the manifest had not been on board. The number of people rescued stood at 43.

Richard Marceliano, one of the survivors, told GMA News that he saw a small amount of smoke that quickly turned into a raging fire and spread through the ferry within seconds. He said he and other passengers spent nearly two hours floating in the sea before they were rescued.

The Coast Guard has deployed five vessels and divers to the area, while army rescue boats, fishermen and private resort owners continued to assist in the search that began Wednesday night. Cayabyab said a larger Coast Guard vessel would also be deployed.

It remained unclear what triggered the blaze. A statement from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), citing survivor accounts, said two successive explosions were heard from within the ship, which triggered the fire.

According to the vessel's manifest, the ferry was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members on a voyage from Baseco in Manila to Coron, a popular tourist destination in Palawan known for its diving sites and island-hopping attractions.

The ferry was also carrying five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift, a pickup truck and mostly cargo goods, according to the Coast Guard.

Explore More