The death toll from a ferry fire in the Philippines has risen to 76 after the Philippine Coast Guard recovered 41 more bodies from the wreckage.
More than 130 people were aboard the MV June Aster when the fire broke out on Wednesday as the vessel approached its destination at the tourist hotspot of Coron, after departing from Manila.
The coast guard said on Saturday that the number of survivors remained at 43, with many receiving treatment in hospital. Another 13 people remain unaccounted for.
Recovery hampered by heat and toxic fumes
Recovery efforts were delayed by toxic fumes and lingering heat inside the wreckage, preventing authorities from boarding the vessel until Friday.
Geronimo Tuvilla, an official with the Philippine Coast Guard, said the priority was to identify the victims and determine the cause of the fire.
Kristine Ablana, a tourism official in Coron, said relatives were being asked to help identify victims through personal belongings and DNA testing.
“Once someone is able to verify that this photo or these belongings are indeed those of their relative, they will be asked to provide a DNA sample,” she said.
Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the fire started in a cargo hold before spreading through the vessel.
She said survivors had reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by “the appearance of smoke and then fire. It spread very quickly”.
Cayabyab added that those who escaped the vessel did not have enough time to put on lifejackets.
Survivors describe frantic escape
A survivor who was rescued by a boat told the BBC that he heard frantic cries on board when the fire erupted.
He said he was trampled by panicked passengers as he tried to escape the vessel.
The ferry, which was built in 2002, had valid safety certificates and passed an enforcement inspection in March, according to the Palawan Daily.
However, investigators are examining potential discrepancies in the passenger manifest, the integrity of cargo loading and the crew’s emergency response protocols.
The vessel was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members.
Atienza Interisland Ferries, the operator of the vessel, has pledged full co-operation with the investigation.
