Breaking
ISRO Hot-Tests CE20 Cryogenic Engine for Upcoming LVM3-M7 and Gaganyaan Missions Centre Proposes Unique Elected Body Under Article 371 for Ladakh, Rules Out Full Statehood Policy Shift in Guwahati: Unlicensed EV Autos Face Strict Document Verification Drive India Beat Bangladesh by 40 Runs to Reach Women's T20 Asia Cup Final Major Navya Shekhawat Becomes First Woman Indian Army Officer Appointed as President's Aide-de-Camp ISRO Hot-Tests CE20 Cryogenic Engine for Upcoming LVM3-M7 and Gaganyaan Missions Centre Proposes Unique Elected Body Under Article 371 for Ladakh, Rules Out Full Statehood Policy Shift in Guwahati: Unlicensed EV Autos Face Strict Document Verification Drive India Beat Bangladesh by 40 Runs to Reach Women's T20 Asia Cup Final Major Navya Shekhawat Becomes First Woman Indian Army Officer Appointed as President's Aide-de-Camp
MinuteBrief logo
World Editor's Pick

At Least 5 Dead, 87 Missing After Philippine Ferry Catches Fire Off Palawan

At least five people died and 87 remain missing after a blaze engulfed the passenger ferry MV June Aster off the coast of Coron in western Philippines.

Nilakshi Barman | | 2 min read

At Least 5 Dead, 87 Missing After Philippine Ferry Catches Fire Off Palawan
MV June Aster burns as flames and smoke rise after a fire broke out on the ferry, off the coast of Palawan, Philippines, in this screengrab taken from a handout video released on September 9, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

In Brief:

  1. A major fire broke out aboard the passenger ferry MV June Aster off Coron, Palawan, on Wednesday evening.
  2. At least five people have been confirmed dead, 42 rescued, and 87 remain unaccounted for.
  3. The vessel was carrying 134 people—117 passengers and 17 crew members—en route from Manila.

Search and rescue operations were underway on Thursday after a night fire swept through the passenger ferry MV June Aster off the waters of Coron municipality in Palawan province.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the vessel had departed from Manila carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the blaze erupted approximately 2.2 kilometers off the destination shore on Wednesday evening. Coast guard personnel and local volunteer fisherfolk managed to rescue 42 individuals—including 38 passengers and four crew members—while recovering five bodies from the scene.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Captain Noemi Cayabyab confirmed that 87 people remain unaccounted for as emergency teams continue searching surrounding waters.

This is a developing story.

More from World