At least five people have died and dozens remain missing after a passenger ferry caught fire off the western Philippines, triggering a major overnight search-and-rescue operation in rough weather. The MV June Aster was carrying 134 people, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members, when the fire broke out near Coron in Palawan province on Wednesday evening.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said 43 people had been rescued by Thursday morning and search efforts were continuing. Authorities had not yet confirmed the condition or location of the remaining people aboard. The vessel remained afloat after firefighters extinguished the flames, but thick smoke continued to rise from it late Thursday morning.

The MV June Aster had departed Manila and was travelling near Coron when the fire began at approximately 6:45 PM on Wednesday. The ferry was around four nautical miles, or 7.4 kilometres, from Turda village when it issued a distress signal. Powerful sea currents later carried the vessel farther away, leaving it approximately 7.68 nautical miles, or 14.2 kilometres, off the village. Images from the nighttime rescue operation showed the ferry burning in the background as coast guard personnel threw life jackets to survivors in the water.

Rescuers helped passengers board smaller vessels before transporting them towards shallow water and the shore. Images from what appeared to be a port also showed body bags laid out as emergency teams received survivors and recovered victims. The exact sequence of events aboard the ferry remained unclear. Officials had not said how quickly the fire spread or whether passengers had enough time to use emergency equipment before entering the water.

Bad weather, strong currents and large waves complicated efforts to locate survivors. The movement of the ferry away from the site of its original distress signal also expanded the area that rescue teams needed to search.

Coast guard teams continued working with smaller boats and other available vessels despite the difficult sea conditions. Authorities were expected to search both the waters surrounding the ferry and areas along the direction of the prevailing currents. Cayabyab said 43 people had been rescued, but the number meant that many passengers and crew members were still unaccounted for at the time of the update.

The coast guard did not immediately provide a full passenger manifest or a breakdown of the victims and survivors. Information officer Joy Gumatay said officials had no information indicating whether foreign nationals were among those on board. The rescue operation remained the immediate priority, with authorities attempting to reach possible survivors before worsening weather further reduced their chances of being found.

Officials said the cause of the blaze had not yet been determined. The Philippine Coast Guard was coordinating with the shipping company and maritime authorities to collect information about the vessel, its voyage and the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Investigators are expected to examine the remains of the ferry once it is declared safe to board. The inquiry could review the vessel’s electrical and mechanical systems, fire-control equipment, maintenance record and crew response.

Authorities may also examine whether emergency alarms and evacuation procedures functioned correctly. No official conclusion had been announced, and there was no immediate indication that overloading played a role. The fact that the vessel remained afloat could assist investigators in recovering evidence. However, smoke, structural damage and continuing sea movement may delay a detailed inspection.

Ferries are an essential form of transport in the Philippines, an archipelago consisting of thousands of islands. Millions of residents rely on passenger vessels to travel between provinces for work, education and family needs. Maritime accidents have occurred periodically due to severe weather, vessel maintenance problems, overcrowding and uneven enforcement of safety regulations, especially on routes serving remote areas.

The latest fire is likely to renew questions about emergency preparedness, vessel inspections and passenger safety standards. Authorities will also face pressure to determine whether the tragedy could have been prevented. The Philippines experienced the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in 1987, when the passenger ferry Dona Paz collided with an oil tanker and sank, killing more than 4,300 people.

While the scale of the MV June Aster incident is far smaller, the continuing search means the final casualty count remains uncertain. Rescue teams are racing against rough seas and changing currents to locate those still missing. Officials are expected to release further information after confirming the passenger list, identifying the victims and receiving updates from the teams searching the waters near Coron.