World · Philippines Bureau
41 ferry fire victims buried in Coron as search continues for 12 missing
Bodies recovered from the M/V June Aster disaster were laid to rest Monday in Palawan as rescuers pressed efforts to locate a dozen people still unaccounted for following the vessel fire that struck near Coron on September 9.
LSN Philippines ·
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN — Forty-one victims of the M/V June Aster ferry fire were temporarily interred Monday in Barangay San Nicolas, Coron, as search and rescue operations intensified for 12 people remain missing following the maritime incident.
The ferry caught fire on September 9 while approaching Coron in Palawan province, claiming the lives of dozens of passengers and crew members. The temporary burial ceremony drew local officials and family members of the deceased as recovery efforts continued at sea.
According to Kristine Mechelle Ablaña, municipal tourism officer of Coron, authorities have maintained systematic search operations in waters surrounding the incident site. The recovery and identification of remains has proceeded with assistance from local and national disaster response agencies.
The M/V June Aster tragedy ranks among the deadliest maritime disasters in the Philippines in recent years. Authorities continue investigating the cause of the fire while working to bring closure to families of those still unaccounted for. Officials have not disclosed a timeline for when the search operations may conclude.