A ferry carrying 134 passengers caught fire in the Philippines (video)

Fire breaks out on ferry carrying 134 passengers and crew members in the Philippines (video)

A fire broke out on a ferry carrying 134 passengers and crew members in the Philippines. As a result of the incident, five people lost their lives. This was reported by the BBC.

The incident occurred on September 9 near a tourist area in Palawan province. In the evening, a fire started on the ferry June Aster, approximately 2.2 kilometers from the shore. A video released by the Coast Guard shows the vessel completely engulfed in flames.

"Based on the current data of 42 rescued people and the deceased, 87 people are missing. This is current information, and as search and rescue operations continue, the numbers may change," said Coast Guard Captain Noemi Cayabyab.

Of those rescued, 38 are passengers and four are crew members. Strong waves pushed the ferry away from the shore, which complicated the rescue operations.

A similar incident occurred on August 12 near the island of Bali. At that time, rescuers managed to evacuate 172 people from a burning ferry. A 19-year-old woman died as a result of the incident. The fire had occurred on a ferry operating on the Padangbai–Lembar route, which connects the islands of Bali and Lombok.