Five dead and more than 80 missing in Philippine ferry fire

Search Intensifies After Ferry Fire Off Palawan Leaves Scores Unaccounted For

Earthguardiansonline.com – Rescue crews launched a major operation in waters off western Palawan on Thursday after a passenger ferry caught fire overnight, leaving five people dead and more than 80 others still unaccounted for.

The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed vessels and additional rescue resources to look for people who may have escaped into the sea. Teams are also using drift-modelling tools to estimate where survivors could have been carried by currents after the blaze began on Wednesday night.

The number of people missing remains subject to change as rescuers continue to locate passengers and verify the ferry’s records. Authorities had confirmed 43 survivors and five deaths, while the vessel’s manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members.

Smoke and Heat Complicate Access to Vessel

The fire-damaged ferry remained inaccessible to responders as thick smoke continued to rise from the ship. Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said emergency personnel faced severe heat inside the vessel and possible explosion risks, preventing an immediate onboard search.

Drone images released by the Coast Guard showed the scorched vessel floating in bright blue-green water, still producing smoke many hours after the emergency began. The continuing smoke has made the operation more difficult at a time when every hour can be critical for people awaiting rescue at sea.

Winds and currents added another obstacle overnight. The burned ferry drifted away from its initial location, expanding the area that rescuers must examine. Search planners are using projected movement patterns to focus vessels and aircraft on zones where people in the water may have traveled.

Air support was also prepared to assist when weather conditions allow. Aileen Ausente, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard in Palawan, said two Chilean nationals were among the 43 people brought to safety.

Route Connected Manila With Coron

The ferry had departed from Baseco in Manila and was traveling to Coron, a well-known destination in Palawan. Coron draws visitors for its dive sites, beaches and island-hopping trips, while ferry connections remain an essential part of travel for residents and tourists moving between the country’s islands.

Its destination also underscores the logistical challenges facing rescue teams. The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, where water travel links communities that are often separated by long distances and limited alternatives for transport.

For millions of people, ferries are part of everyday life: they carry commuters, families, workers, cargo and visitors between provinces. That reliance makes safety at sea a continuing public concern whenever a major maritime emergency occurs.

Cause of Fire Still Under Investigation

Investigators have not yet determined what caused the blaze. Establishing how the fire started will require a detailed examination once conditions aboard the ferry are safe enough for authorities to enter and inspect the vessel.

The immediate priority remains finding those who may still be in the water or otherwise awaiting assistance. Rescue figures can shift during an emergency of this scale as passengers are located, manifest information is reviewed and survivors are transferred to safer locations.

The Philippines has experienced serious ferry accidents in the past, with incidents often highlighting risks linked to overcrowding, severe weather and weak enforcement of maritime safety rules. Each disaster also brings renewed attention to the need for reliable passenger records, trained crews, emergency equipment and rapid coordination between vessels and coastal responders.

In this case, the combination of an active fire scene, lingering smoke and a drifting ship has created a complex search environment. Rescue teams must balance the urgency of reaching missing passengers with the danger posed by heat, smoke and the possibility of further damage aboard the ferry.

As the search continues, authorities are expected to keep reassessing the affected area as currents and weather conditions evolve. The toll remains provisional, with five deaths confirmed and dozens of people still missing while responders work across the waters off Palawan.