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Death toll in Philippines ferry fire rises to 35 as more bodies are recovered
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- A passenger ferry fire near Palawan province in the Philippines killed at least 35 people, with 54 still missing and 43 survivors reported; the fire spread rapidly, causing panic and chaos among passengers.
- Rescuers faced difficulties entering the vessel due to intense heat and smoke, delaying search efforts for those trapped inside the ferry.
- The ferry, carrying 134 people, was near its destination of Coron when the fire broke out; the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
- Family members of the missing passengers expressed anguish over the tragedy, particularly the difficulty in identifying remains due to severe burns.
- Ferry travel is common in the Philippines but often risky due to factors like overcrowding, poor maintenance, and inconsistent safety enforcement, with the country having experienced one of the deadliest maritime disasters in 1987.
