Palawan: At least five individuals have died and 87 are still missing following a ferry fire off the coast of Palawan, a noted tourist locale in the western Philippines. The incident involved the MV June Aste, which caught fire as it navigated the waters of the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, the MV June Aste was transporting 117 passengers along with 17 crew members when the fire broke out on Wednesday. The local Palawan News has been cited for these details.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab stated that 42 people have been rescued. This information was shared via a statement on Facebook. She emphasized that search and rescue efforts are actively continuing.

Response teams from the PCG were deployed after reports of the fire were received. The incident occurred approximately 1.2 nautical miles, or 2.2 kilometers, northeast of Barangay Marcilla in Coron, Palawan. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.