Another casualty was reported by the hospital on Wednesday, after one of the survivors pulled from the charred passenger ship finally succumbed to severe injuries. The death toll from the maritime disaster has now climbed to 77. Hospital authorities did not release the victim's identity, only confirming that the person passed away at the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital.
The vessel, the MV June Aster, had set sail from Manila bound for Coron. The fire broke out unexpectedly as the ship neared Palawan. There were more than 130 people on board, including passengers and crew. Eyewitnesses noted that the disaster struck just as the ship was about to dock, and local authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze.
With so many islands scattered across the region, passenger ferries are a lifeline for travel and cargo, making the waterways heavily congested and prone to accidents. A similar ferry fire a few years ago claimed over 30 lives. This latest tragedy has left locals and port workers deeply shaken.
