Five people died and 43 rescued after a passenger ferry burst into flames in Philippines on Wednesday, the coast guard said.
The ferry caught fire on its journey to Coron, Palawan, on Wednesday, with families now waiting to hear from their loved ones. The vessel was carrying 134 people, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members.
The alarm was raised at 6:45 p.m.
Philippine authorities said 43 people have been rescued so far, but the figures could change as search and rescue operations continue.
The vessel was travelling from Manila to Coron in Palawan when the vessel was engulfed in flames about 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla, Coron, Palawan.
“The number of possible missing is 86. We based it from the manifest submitted by the captain of the vessel,” said an official from the Philippine coast guard, adding that search and rescue efforts were still underway. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson said the figures were still changing as operations continued.
Video shared by the coast guard showed the vessel engulfed in flames during the night as rescuers pulled survivors from the water.
The company which owns the ferry said it was working “around the clock” and mobilized all available resources to manage this crisis. The statement added that “several passengers and crew members have sustained injuries and some went missing.”
It reads: “Search and rescue operations will continue uninterrupted. All evacuated passengers and crew who sustained injuries have been transported to nearest health facility and are receiving immediate medical attention.
“We have deployed specialized care teams to assist the families of the injured and missing, providing lodging and transportation services.
“We are fully cooperating with the government and maritime personnel to determine the exact cause of the conflagration.
“We are committed to full transparency and will provide further updates as verified information becomes available from the rescue teams and authorities.
“Our hearts remain with the affected families, and we will not rest until all individuals are accounted for.”
