A fire burned overnight on a passenger ferry off the western coast of the Philippines, leaving at least five people dead and dozens missing as of Thursday, authorities said. The blaze occurred while the vessel was operating near Palawan province, with survivors and rescuers continuing to work through the night and into Thursday.
Photos provided by the Philippine Coast Guard show survivors being helped off boats after being rescued from the burning ferry. Officials reported that search and rescue operations were ongoing, with many passengers unaccounted for at the time of the latest updates.
The incident highlights the dangers confronting passenger ferries in the region, as crews and responders carry out retrievals amid difficult conditions. Further details, including the ferry’s route, the total number of people on board, and the precise cause of the fire, were not provided in the available update.