# Thirty-five dead in Palawan ferry fire, and counting

> A fire in the cargo hold of the M/V June Aster spread through the ship in seconds, and 54 people are still missing.
- Title: Thirty-five dead in Palawan ferry fire, and counting
- Summary: A fire in the cargo hold of the M/V June Aster spread through the ship in seconds, and 54 people are still missing. The June Aster fire killed at least 35…
- Keywords: philippines, ferry disaster, palawan, maritime safety, asia pacific, news, world, Thirty-five, dead, ferry, fire, counting
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/12/death-toll-from-philippines-ferry-fire-rises-to-35-as-officials-warn-toll-will-grow
- Author: Agence France-Presse
- Published: 2026-09-12T04:53:10+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: philippines, ferry disaster, palawan, maritime safety, asia pacific, news, world
## Bodies come ashore at Coron
On Saturday morning, 30 bodies from the M/V June Aster arrived at a port near the Palawan resort town of Coron. Tents were set up to receive them.
## The toll will rise
Thirty-five are confirmed dead and the coast guard says that number will grow. More bodies are still on the ferry, left behind because the patrol boat could only carry 30.
## It took seconds
The fire started in the cargo hold on Wednesday evening. Survivors described a loud explosion, then smoke, then flame. Nobody had time to put on a lifejacket.

> Everything happened in seconds
## Found in economy class
The bodies were recovered from the ship's economy accommodation area. Police forensic investigators will identify them before families are told.
## Fifty-four still missing
Thirty passengers and 13 crew were rescued. Myra Cabilan flew to Coron looking for her brother Rammel, a new father whose daughter was born a month ago.

> At dawn, I still believed he survived. But he's still missing. I have lost hope.
## A pattern, not an accident
With 7,000-plus islands and 116 million people, the Philippines runs on cheap, poorly regulated inter-island boats. Deadly ferry disasters keep happening.
## Key takeaway

The June Aster fire killed at least 35 people because it spread faster than anyone could reach a lifejacket, on a route where cheap, thinly regulated ferries are the only way to travel.