The death toll from a ferry fire in the Philippines has risen to 35, with 54 people still missing following the disaster that tore through the vessel near southwestern Palawan province, according to the Associated Press. Rescue teams and coast guard personnel working at the site faced intense heat and heavy smoke on Thursday, which severely hampered efforts to search the interior of the charred ship for trapped passengers. By Friday, recovery operations yielded additional bodies, pushing the confirmed death toll to 35. Coast guard imagery of the wreckage revealed a burned-out interior filled with ashes, twisted metal, a damaged car, and what appeared to be human remains. The vessel, operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., had departed from the capital city of Manila. It was approximately 4.5 miles (7.4 kilometers) off the village of Turda, near its intended destination of Coron in Palawan province, when the blaze broke out on Wednesday night. According to the official manifest, 134 people were on board at the time of the fire, comprising 117 passengers and 17 crew members. The coast guard noted that two individuals listed on the manifest subsequently reported to authorities that they had failed to board the ship. Among the 43 survivors are two tourists from Chile, according to Rachel Conserman, a staffer for Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc. Conserman stated that the Chilean nationals are recovering from their injuries at a hospital in Coron, adding that no other foreign citizens were believed to be on the vessel. Coron is widely known as a major tourist destination characterized by clear blue waters, limestone cliffs, and distinct rock formations. Arnulfo Nokki Villanueva, recounting his experience in a video broadcast by News5, said he dropped to the floor after the fire engulfed the cabin, sustaining burns to his back. “I wanted to get a life jacket but failed to get one because people were stepping on me,” Villanueva said, explaining that he ultimately escaped by jumping through a window. At a rescue center in Turda, family members awaited news of their missing relatives amid profound uncertainty. Lira Daco spoke of her anguish while waiting for word regarding her 20-year-old daughter, Cyriel. “It’s painful to think that your child was asking for help while she was burning alive,” Daco said. Describing the condition of the recovered remains inside the vessel, she added, “I don’t know how we can find out which one is my child. It’s OK if she just drowned and we can recover her body and give her a proper burial. But now we can’t recognize or hug her.”
Maritime accidents remain a persistent challenge in the Philippine archipelago, where ferries serve as a primary mode of transportation. Sea disasters occur with some frequency due to factors including severe storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding, and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations, particularly in remote provincial waters. The country’s maritime history includes the world’s deadliest peacetime shipping disaster, which occurred in December 1987 when the ferry Dona Paz collided with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, resulting in the deaths of more than 4,300 people. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire aboard the Palawan-bound ferry. The coast guard and local rescue units continue to secure the site as investigations and recovery operations proceed.
