Manila [Philippines], September 13: More charred bodies were recovered on Saturday from a passenger ferry that caught fire in the western Philippines, bringing the death toll to 76, the coastguard said.
Up to 13 people are still unaccounted for in the fire that broke out on the MV June Aster on Thursday evening, said coastguard spokeswoman Commodore Noemi Cayabyab. "This figure may still change as recovery and identification operations continue," she said in a statement. The coastguard was able to find 41 charred bodies from the ferry on Saturday after 30 bodies were found on Friday, she said. The fire was put out some 30 hours after it started.
Forty-three people, including two Chilean tourists, were rescued after they were able to jump off the burning vessel, Cayabyab said. The ferry was travelling from Manila to Coron town in the western province of Palawan, a popular tourist destination, when the fire broke out.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Some survivors reported an explosion from the cargo hold, followed by thick smoke and fire, the spokeswoman said. The vessel was reportedly carrying five motorcycles, one electric car, one fork lift, one pick-up van and essential goods such as rice and eggs.
Source: Qatar Tribune
