Officials confirmed Saturday that the number of survivors remains at 43, with many still receiving hospital treatment, while 13 people continue to be listed as missing. Recovery efforts were significantly delayed due to toxic smoke and residual heat aboard the vessel, preventing rescue teams from safely boarding until Friday. Geronimo Tuvilla, an official with the Philippine Coast Guard, said the current focus remains on identifying victims and determining what caused the fire.
Families Assist With Victim Identification
Kristine Ablana, a tourism official based in Coron, said relatives of missing passengers are being asked to help identify loved ones using personal belongings and DNA testing. She explained that once a family member confirms that a photo or item genuinely belongs to their relative, they will then be asked to provide a DNA sample to assist with formal identification.
Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the fire originated in the ship's cargo hold before rapidly spreading throughout the vessel. According to survivor accounts, the incident began with a loud explosion, followed quickly by smoke and flames that spread at an alarming speed. Cayabyab noted that many passengers who managed to escape did not have enough time to put on life jackets before evacuating.
Survivor recalls panic as fire raced toward him
One survivor, rescued and taken to safety on a rescue boat, said he heard panicked screams across the ferry as the fire spread. He also said he was trampled by other passengers who were trying to escape the chaos. The ferry, built in 2002, was properly certified for safety and passed an official inspection as recently as March. But investigators now are examining a number of possible issues such as inconsistencies in the ship's manifest, the safety of cargo loading operations and how well the crew adhered to emergency response protocols.
The vessel carried 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the fire broke out. The company that runs the vessel, Atienza Interisland Ferries, said it will fully cooperate with the probe into the disaster.
