Death Toll Expected to Rise After Philippines Ferry Fire as Victims’ Bodies Returned to Coron

The death toll from the devastating ferry fire off the coast of the Philippines is expected to increase after authorities recovered dozens of bodies from the vessel, with remains arriving at a port near the resort town of Coron, Palawan, on Saturday.

Officials confirmed that the bodies of passengers killed in the disaster were transported from the M/V June Aster, which caught fire on Wednesday evening before running aground near the popular tourist destination. According to authorities, the blaze spread through the vessel within seconds, leaving many passengers trapped.

As recovery operations continued, workers set up temporary facilities at the port to receive the victims. Philippine Coast Guard spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab said the remains would be handed over to forensic investigators for proper identification before families are formally notif

Authorities reported that 30 bodies were brought ashore during the first transfer operation. Cayabyab explained that the number was limited by the carrying capacity of the patrol vessel used in the recovery effort. Additional bodies were believed to remain aboard the ferry, with updates expected as search and retrieval operations continue.

Officials also confirmed that many of the recovered victims were found in the ship’s economy-class accommodation area, where passengers may have had little time to escape as the fire rapidly engulfed parts of the vessel.

Police investigators arrived at the port shortly after the bodies were delivered and are expected to play a key role in both the identification process and the broader investigation into the cause of the tragedy.

The ferry fire has already claimed at least 35 lives, including five deaths confirmed in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Rescue and recovery teams remain focused on locating any remaining victims and determining exactly how the deadly blaze started.

The disaster has shocked the Philippines and renewed concerns about maritime safety in a country heavily dependent on ferry transport for travel between its thousands of islands. Authorities are expected to launch a full investigation once recovery operations are completed.