Passenger ferry MV June Aster caught fire off Coron in Palawan, Philippines, on the evening of September 9, 2026, leaving at least five people dead and dozens rescued, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with several dozen passengers and crew still unaccounted for, and authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze and broader implications for domestic passenger-vessel safety.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the passenger vessel MV June Aster, sailing from Manila to Coron in Palawan, was engulfed by fire on the night of September 9, 2026, roughly 1–2 nautical miles off the coast. The ship’s manifest indicated more than 130 people on board – 117 passengers and 17 crew, although some reports cite a total of 134 persons. As of early September 10, officials confirmed at least five fatalities, while about 42 people had been rescued, leaving dozens still missing. Coast Guard maritime environmental units and special operations groups were deployed to conduct search-and-rescue, provide assistance to survivors, and monitor potential environmental impacts in the incident area.
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