Bodies of ferry fire victims arrive in Coron as death toll rises to 76

A blaze that erupted in the cargo hold of the inter‑island ferry M/V June Aster on Wednesday has claimed at least 76 lives. The vessel, grounded roughly 7.5 kilometres off the coast of Coron in Palawan, saw its remains ferried ashore on Saturday as forensic teams begin the painstaking task of identification.

Rescue and recovery operations

Coast Guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab confirmed that the first 30 coffins arrived by sea earlier on Saturday. The bodies will be taken to a local port before being moved to a temporary cemetery where shallow graves have been dug pending DNA testing.

Tourism official Kristine Ablana explained that relatives will be allowed to view personal items and, once they can verify ownership, will be asked to provide DNA samples to aid the process.

"Everything happened in seconds," she said, describing survivor accounts of the explosion and rapid spread of fire.

Thirty passengers, including two Chilean nationals, and 13 crew members have been rescued. Around a dozen people are still unaccounted for, and officials have not disclosed how many bodies may still be aboard the vessel.

Impact on the community and wider implications

Local residents gathered at the pier to mourn. One mother, Josenit Mayo, 40, recounted her daughter’s last words before boarding: “Mom, I want to go home, I miss my siblings.” Another relative, Myra Cabilan, travelled from Manila seeking her missing brother, 40‑year‑old Rammel Gonzaga, who vanished on a business trip.Thousands have turned to social media, posting on a mayor’s Facebook page in hopes of locating loved ones, even pets.

The tragedy adds to a grim record of ferry disasters in the Philippines, a nation of over 7,000 islands where cheap, often poorly regulated vessels are a lifeline for many. In January, a triple‑deck ferry sank in the south, killing at least 52 people.

The ship’s owner, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc, has pledged full cooperation with investigators. The incident is likely to reignite calls for stricter safety standards and better enforcement across the archipelago’s maritime network.

What comes next

Authorities will continue to search the grounded hull for any remaining victims while DNA analysis proceeds. The findings will shape official death counts and may influence future regulatory reforms. Families can expect a prolonged period of waiting as identification efforts unfold.