Story perspectives

MV June Aster fire death toll hits 35, 84 missing

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 6:31 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Philippines Coast Guard boarded the burning MV June Aster to search for missing passengers.
The fire erupted around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday off Coron near Turda village.
Five deaths were confirmed and 35 bodies later recovered, raising the death toll to 35.
Forty-three survivors were rescued, many taken to hospitals on Coron.
Eighty-four people remain missing after two manifest names were confirmed not aboard.

History

Historical Context

On December 20, 1987, Sulpicio Lines’ ferry MV Doña Paz collided with the tanker Vector, killing an estimated 4,386 people, the Philippines’ deadliest peacetime maritime disaster. The tragedy led to tighter safety oversight, reshaping Coast Guard emergency response. In 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard rescued 43 survivors from the burning MV June Aster off Coron, echoing reforms born from Doña Paz.

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Story summary

The Philippines Coast Guard boarded the burning MV June Aster to search for missing passengers.
The fire erupted around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday off Coron near Turda village.
Five deaths were confirmed and 35 bodies later recovered, raising the death toll to 35.
Forty-three survivors were rescued, many taken to hospitals on Coron.
Eighty-four people remain missing after two manifest names were confirmed not aboard.

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