Death toll from Philippine ferry fire rises to 76
The Philippine Coast Guard says 41 more bodies have been recovered from the M/V June Aster, with 13 people still missing
The death toll from a Philippine ferry fire has risen to 76, with 13 people still missing, after search teams recovered additional remains from the passenger vessel off Palawan province.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in a statement on Saturday that 41 more charred bodies were retrieved from the ferry.
M/V June Aster was sailing from Manila, carrying 132 passengers and crew, when a blaze engulfed its lower decks on Wednesday evening, just 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) off its destination of Coron, in northern Palawan.
“Some passengers reportedly jumped into the water after seeing the fire and may not have had time to retrieve their life jackets.”