From the Guardian · Agence France-Presse · · 1m 30s
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.
In brief
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 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. Originally…
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.
Here's the gist
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.
