Manila–Coron ferry 'June Aster' catches fire — 77 dead, 8 missing, captain indicted

📌 A fire broke out on September 9 evening aboard the passenger ship MV June Aster, traveling from Manila to Coron, Palawan, leaving 77 people dead and 8 still missing.
There were 134 people on board, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members, and 43 were rescued. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) pointed to improperly secured flammable cargo as the cause, and the captain has been criminally indicted.

■ Incident Overview
· A 490-ton passenger-cargo vessel (operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries) that departed Manila on the evening of September 8 and was scheduled to arrive in Coron the following evening
· Around 6:45 PM on September 9 (Philippine time), an explosion occurred in the cargo hold followed by a spreading fire in the waters off Coron just before arrival
· Due to a power outage, the public address system failed, preventing evacuation instructions from being properly communicated to passengers. Survivors testified that they jumped out of the windows into the sea to escape the flames
· The Coast Guard recovered a large number of bodies two days later, mostly from the economy section. This is the deadliest maritime disaster in the Philippines in over a decade

■ Investigation & Current Status (as of September 28)
· 77 dead (including 1 crew member who died at the hospital after rescue), 43 survivors, 8 missing. Coast Guard search operations ongoing
· MARINA: "There was a large amount of flammable cargo that was improperly secured" — loading it close to passenger areas violated safety regulations
· The captain faces administrative proceedings along with criminal charges (Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code) for falsifying the "safe departure clearance." The passenger manifest included 6 people who did not actually board and 1 duplicate
· Suspension of crew licenses and emergency fire safety inspections for the 2 remaining passenger ships of the same company
· Government compensation: 50,000 pesos per survivor, 250,000 pesos for the bereaved families of the deceased
· No Korean nationals reported on board (reports indicate two Chilean tourists were rescued)

■ Notes for Expats & Travelers
· When taking long-distance overnight ferries for island travel to Coron, El Nido, etc., check the location of life jackets, emergency exits, and escape routes as soon as you board. In this accident, the announcement system was cut off due to a power outage.
· When purchasing tickets, make sure your name is accurately listed on the passenger manifest. Inaccurate manifests delay rescue and identification during an accident.
· Passenger-cargo ships that carry mixed freight pose risks of flammable cargo loading; if your schedule permits, consider ferry lines with verified operational records or flights.

■ Sources
Al Jazeera (9/10), CBS News (9/11), Seoul Shin문 (9/10), GMA News (9/16), Philstar (9/17·9/27·9/28), Manila Times (9/23), Wikipedia incident summary

■ Photos
· The June Aster burning off the coast of Coron on the night of September 9 (Al Jazeera/AFP)
· Coast Guard personnel inspecting the burned interior of the ship (Philstar)