On September 11 (local time), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that rescue teams had recovered 30 more bodies from the wreckage of a passenger ferry that caught fire on September 9 off the coast of Palawan province, bringing the total number of deaths to 35 people.
Local media confirmed that there are still 54 missing people, while 43 people have miraculously survived the fire.
Images released by PCG at the scene show that the ship was burned to ashes, leaving only the iron frame, ashes and deformed metal sheets lying scattered inside the hold.
The ill-fated ferry departed from Manila and suddenly caught fire fiercely while moving near the sea area of Coron city, a famous tourist destination in the Philippines.
The initial passenger list recorded 134 people on the ferry, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members. However, 2 passengers later reported to authorities that they had not boarded before departure time.
Ferries are a common means of waterway transport connecting islands in the island nation of the Philippines. Extreme weather conditions, poor vehicle maintenance and loose implementation of maritime safety regulations are the main reasons why tragic ferry sinking and fire accidents still frequently recur in this country.
