AUTHORITIES are still searching for approximately 87 individuals following a massive fire that broke out aboard a passenger vessel bound for Coron, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Thursday.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab reported that search and rescue operations remain in full swing as teams work to account for every person listed on the ship’s manifest.
According to the official passenger and crew manifest, 134 people were on board — comprising 117 passengers and 17 crew members. As of the latest update, 42 individuals have been rescued and brought to safety, while five fatalities have been confirmed. This leaves the whereabouts of 87 persons still unknown, prompting an extensive search effort across the surrounding waters.
Cayabyab clarified that the figures are based on the manifest submitted to authorities, and that the actual number of persons on board may shift as rescuers account for everyone and verify identities. “If we base it on the manifest given to us, there are a total of 134, so we are still locating and identifying 87 individuals,” she explained. The PCG has urged families with missing relatives to coordinate with newly released hotlines to assist in identification and reunification efforts.
The maritime incident has raised urgent concerns over passenger safety and emergency preparedness at sea. As rescue vessels and aircraft continue combing the area, authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the blaze and why so many individuals remain unaccounted for. Updates will be released as more persons are rescued or located, and as the full scale of the tragedy becomes clearer.
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