Fire breaks out on passenger vessel in the Philippines, death toll rises to 77

Photo: Collected

International Desk: The death toll from a fire on a passenger vessel near Palawan province in the Philippines has risen to 77. Eight people still remain missing following the incident. Anadolu reported this information in a report on Thursday (September 17).

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Wednesday (September 16) that there were 128 people aboard the vessel named MV June Aster. Although 132 names were initially on the passenger list, subsequent verification revealed that four of them did not board the ship.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab stated that 43 passengers were rescued alive. The PCG further added that verification and cross-matching of information for every individual on the ship's ticket and passenger list are still ongoing.

The MV June Aster set sail from Manila last Wednesday (September 9). Later, a fire broke out on the vessel in the maritime waters near Coron in the southwest Palawan province of the Philippines.