The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed full operational capabilities in a high-stakes search-and-rescue mission off the coast of Palawan, where 87 individuals remain unaccounted for after a passenger-cargo ferry caught fire on Wednesday.
Fierce sea currents and adverse weather conditions continue to hinder rescue teams near Coron, where the Atienza Interisland Shipping Line vessel, MV June Aster, caught fire while making its journey from Manila.
Speaking in a radio interview on Thursday, PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab stressed the urgency of the mission, confirming that every accessible vessel and resource has been redirected to the area.
Official manifests indicate the vessel carried 134 people, 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Out of that total, rescuers have accounted for 47 individuals: five confirmed fatalities, along with 42 survivors (38 passengers and four crew members).
“Time is of the essence,” Cayabyab noted, explaining that response teams are working against dynamic conditions. “The figures that we have now may change while our search and rescue operations are ongoing.”
Along with rescue teams, firefighters continue attempting to extinguish the lingering blaze aboard the drifting vessel. Strong currents have dragged the ship from its initial distress location four nautical miles off Barangay Turda to nearly eight nautical miles away. Local fishing communities have joined government agencies in scanning the rough waters for survivors.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. PCG authorities plan to interview survivors once they are stabilized and will work alongside the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to assess the vessel’s compliance with safety standards and seaworthiness.