By Benson Daniel
The death toll from a devastating ferry fire in the Philippines has risen to 35, with authorities warning that the number could increase as rescue teams continue searching the badly damaged vessel.
The fire broke out on Wednesday night aboard the June Aster, a passenger ferry travelling from Manila to the popular tourist destination of Coron in Palawan province. The vessel was nearing its destination when flames rapidly engulfed parts of the ship.
Rescuers recovered 30 addiional bodies from the burned-out ferry on Friday after intense heat and thick smoke had initially prevented them from entering the vessel. Forty-three people have so far been rescued, while 54 others remain missing.
The ferry’s passenger manifest showed that 134 people were on board, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Two people listed on the manifest later reported that they had not boarded the vessel.
Survivors described scenes of panic as the fire spread rapidly through the ferry. Some passengers were forced to jump into the sea to escape the flames, while others struggled to reach life jackets amid the chaos.
One survivor said the fire spread within seconds, leaving passengers with little time to react. Rescue efforts were also complicated by the intense heat and heavy smoke inside the vessel.
The ferry was carrying several vehicles and other cargo when the fire started. Investigators have yet to establish the exact cause of the blaze, although authorities said some survivors reported hearing two explosions from inside the ship shortly before the fire spread.
Search and recovery operations remain underway as authorities work to account for those still missing and identify the bodies recovered from the wreckage.
Families of passengers have gathered at rescue and information centres waiting for news of relatives whose whereabouts remain unknown. The uncertainty has added to the distress surrounding the disaster, particularly as some of the recovered remains have been difficult to identify.
Two Chilean tourists were among those rescued and were receiving medical treatment, while authorities said they had no immediate information indicating that other foreign nationals were aboard the ferry.
The latest tragedy has renewed concerns about maritime safety in the Philippines, an archipelago where ferries are an essential means of transportation between islands and provinces.
Authorities have promised a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire, including how it began, how quickly it spread and whether safety procedures were properly followed.
With dozens of people still unaccounted for, rescue teams are continuing their work while families wait anxiously for confirmation about their loved ones.
Officials have cautioned that the death toll could rise further as search teams gain greater access to the damaged sections of the vessel and continue recovering bodies.
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