World · Philippines Bureau
Coast Guard launches search for missing passengers after ferry fire off Palawan
The Philippine Coast Guard and local disaster officials are conducting urgent search and rescue operations following a fire aboard passenger ferry MV June Aster off Coron town. The incident occurred Wednesday evening with several passengers unaccounted for.
LSN Philippines ·
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Joint personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office mobilized search and rescue operations Wednesday evening after a passenger ferry caught fire at sea off Coron town in Palawan.
The MV June Aster, a passenger vessel, encountered the emergency while operating in the waters off the municipality. The fire prompted immediate response from maritime and local disaster management authorities who deployed rescue teams to the area.
Search teams concentrated efforts on locating missing passengers from the ill-fated vessel. The exact number of persons aboard at the time of the incident and details regarding the fire's cause remained under investigation.
The Philippine Coast Guard typically coordinates multi-agency response efforts for maritime emergencies in the region, coordinating with local government units to ensure comprehensive coverage of affected areas. Such operations often involve vessel searches, survivor assistance, and preliminary incident investigation to determine circumstances surrounding the emergency.