Search for missing passengers of Palawan ferry fire continues

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY —Joint personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) are conducting search, rescue, and emergency operations for missing passengers of an ill-fated passenger ferry that caught fire at sea off Coron town on Wednesday evening (September 9). The ferry, MV June Aster, owned and operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries, Inc. was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew when fire erupted while it was 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla. The incident was reported to the coast guard at approximately 6:45 p.m. READ: Passenger ferry caught fire off Coron, Palawan Only 42 passengers have been rescued while five were confirmed dead, according to the latest update from Coast Guard District Palawan. The survivors were initially brought to a covered court in Barangay Turda and later transferred to ghe Coron District Hospital and other medical facilities while the fatalities’ remains were turned over to the Coron MDRRMO. The PCG immediately dispatched response teams from coast guard substations in Barangays Turda and Tara in coordination with the Coron MDRRMO and the shipping line which also sent vessels that were docked at Coron port. CGD Palawan likewise deployed BRP Suluan (MRRV 4406) from El Nido town to augment emergency response. Coron Mayor Mario Reyes has setup several hotline numbers for relatives of passengers to contact – 09532697909, 09508510441 for Coron District Hospital, and 09953943432 for Coron MDRRMO. Reyes also reported that a 7-year old boy from the ferry was transferred to Culion General Hospital Wednesday night. The mayor likewise called on the public to give way to the ongoing search and rescue operations, saying responders were primarily focused on securing passengers and others who were affected while details of the incident are still being verified by concerned agencies. /jpv