Police say it could take months to identify Philippine ferry fire victims
At least 76 people died in the fire, with authorities saying that the shortest it could take to identify victims would be "weeks".
Police say it could take months to identify Philippine ferry fire victims
Police are working to identify the remains of those who died in the blaze aboard the MV June Aster.
Philippine authorities said it may take weeks or months to identify the victims of a ferry fire that killed 76 people last week.
"Most of them are already in a charred condition," Richard Allan Mangalip, a forensic specialist from the Philippine National Police, told reporters on Sunday. Family members have been asked to help identify victims with personal items or DNA samples.
The MV June Aster was travelling from Manila to Coron in Palawan province, a popular holiday destination, when a fire broke out in its cargo hold and quickly spread across the vessel.
Forty-three people survived the disaster, while 13 people remain unaccounted for, authorities said.
Mangalip said they were "trying [their] best to collect the possible identifying marks" from victims' remains.
But he said it was difficult to provide a definite timeline for the identification process because of the number of specimens, adding, "It could be weeks, or it could be months."
A coast guard official said on Saturday that the priority was identifying victims and determining the cause of the blaze.
The fire burned for more than a day, giving off heat and toxic fumes that hampered search and rescue operations. It took more than 40 hours before rescuers could board the ship in search of survivors.
The MV June Aster had departed last Tuesday from Manila to Coron, a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists, known for its beaches and WW2 shipwreck diving sites.
In addition to tourists, the ferry also carried passengers travelling to Coron for work or to visit family.
Survivors said they heard a loud explosion before seeing smoke and fire. As the fire swept through the ship, chaos broke out on board, they said.
One told the BBC that he had been trampled after falling on the floor. He jumped off the boat into the sea before being rescued hours later.
But many burned to death on the ship. Mangalip said at the press conference on Sunday that some victims' remains were found clustered together in parts of the vessel.
"Our thoughts are also with the survivors and families still waiting for news of their loved ones," the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement on Sunday. "We recognise the pain and uncertainty they continue to endure as recovery and identification efforts remain underway."