The M/V June Aster, a passenger-cargo ship carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members or a total of 134, caught fire off the coast of Coron, Palawan on the evening of September 9, 2026. At least five people have been confirmed dead while over 80 passengers remain unaccounted for.
The ship, owned and operated by the Atienza Interisland Ferries, Inc., traveled from Baseco Port in Manila toward Coron, Palawan on September 8 and reportedly caught fire at around 6:45 p.m. of September 9 near Barangay Marcilla
More than 40 survivors were reportedly saved by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO and local fishermen in the area, as search and rescue efforts continue as of presstime.
Authorities said the efforts to locate the passengers faced challenged of strong winds, rough weather and poor visibility due to heavy smoke coming from the burning ship.
Survivors told probers that the fire began from the ship’s cargo holding area and spread quickly. Precautionary measures to prevent an oil spill have been reportedly put in place while investigation is underway.#
