At least five people have died and 87 remain unaccounted for after a ferry caught fire near a major tourist destination in the Philippine province of Palawan, the coast guard said Thursday.
The vessel had 134 passengers and crew members listed on its manifest, according to coast guard Captain Noemi Cayabyab.
“Based on the data we have right now on rescued (42) and the casualties (five), we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for,” Cayabyab told a local radio station.
She said rescue and firefighting operations were still underway as authorities worked to determine the whereabouts of those missing.
The Philippine Coast Guard said the fire broke out aboard the ferry off Palawan, with aerial footage showing the damaged vessel following the incident.
The latest figures indicate that 42 people have been rescued, while five others have been confirmed dead. Authorities have yet to account for the remaining 87 passengers and crew.
Search and rescue efforts were continuing as emergency teams battled the blaze and worked to locate survivors.
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