MV June Aster ship fire

The June Aster is a passenger-cargo vessel operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., a Philippine shipping company.^[3][4] It passed a safety check conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in March 2026.^[5] At the time, the Filipino Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) recorded that the June Aster had a gross tonnage of 490.49, a capacity of 277 passengers and 21 crew, and was built in 2002.^[4]

Before the fire, the vessel was used on the Manila–Coron–El Nido, Batangas–Puerto Galera and Batangas–Coron routes.^[6] In September 2025, it ran aground off Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro during a typhoon, resulting in the rescue of its 16 crew.^[7]

Coron is a municipality in the northern part of Palawan and is part of the Calamian Islands, together with Busuanga, Culion and Linapacan.^[8] Coron is also a tourist destination known for island-hopping, diving and other marine activities.^[9]

The June Aster departed Manila on the evening of September 8, 2026, and was expected to arrive in Coron the next evening.^[10] On the evening of September 9, the ship caught fire in the waters off Coron. The PCG said the ferry was approximately 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla when the incident occurred.^[2] The fire was reported at around 6:45 p.m PHT. The vessel had 117 passengers and 17 crew members aboard, according to its manifest.^[11] Its cargo included five motorcycles, an electric car, a forklift, and a pick-up truck.^[12] The vessel had departed from Baseco in Manila and was bound for Coron when the fire broke out.^[13]

The PCG responded after receiving a report of the burning vessel. Other ships in the area, the Coast Guard Sub-Station in Turda, the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and local fishermen also assisted in the response.^[11] Video released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the ferry engulfed in flames. Authorities had not determined the cause of the fire as of September 10.^[14] Due to strong currents, the ship's position shifted by some 3.68 nautical miles from its initial location^[15] before running aground.^[16] Due to the flames, the PCG was unable to board the ship until the fire was put out on the morning of September 11.^[17][18]

The PCG led the search and rescue operation following the fire. Other vessels, the Coast Guard Sub-Station Turda, the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and local fishermen took part in the response. Forty-two people were rescued from the vessel and brought to the covered court in Barangay Turda. Five people were reported dead, while authorities continued searching for people who were still unaccounted for.^[11] On September 10, the number of people rescued increased to 43.^[19][20] Thirteen crew members were also rescued.^[21] Some survivors were not wearing life vests during the incident.^[22]

Two people initially listed as missing were later found to have missed the ship's departure, putting the initial number of unaccounted at 84.^[1] Among the passengers were two Chilean nationals who survived.^[23] Atienza Shipping said four crew members were missing, while the ship's captain, identified as Roel Sarmiento, survived, although the PCG said he was not in its list of survivors.^[24][25]

After the fire was put out, at least 30 bodies were recovered from the vessel on September 11.^[26] The next day, the remains of 41 victims and one dog were recovered, raising the death toll to 76.^[27] Authorities prepared temporary graves to store bodies until they could be identified.^[28] The bodies of the 71 people recovered from the ship were described as "totally charred" and required DNA identification.^[29] The Philippine National Police processed the remains at a makeshift laboratory set up in Borac Port.^[30]

Medical response

The rescued passengers were brought to local medical facilities. Seven of the survivors were taken to a hospital in Culion, a neighboring island, for medical treatment.^[22] The search and rescue operation continued under the direction of the PCG.^[31]

Authorities had not determined the cause of the fire as of September 10, 2026.^[2] Preliminary interviews with survivors indicated that the fire started in the cargo hold, according to the PCG.^[22] Survivors said the fire was preceded by a loud explosion that immediately shut off the ship's electricity and generated smoke before the flames rapidly spread.^[6][32]

• MV Doña Paz