Five dead and 84 missing after ferry fire in the Philippines

Manila, Philippines. Firefighters boarded a burned-out ferry on Friday, more than a day after it caught fire while travelling from Manila to the western province of Palawan, killing five people and leaving 84 missing.

The Philippine Coast Guard said 43 people had been rescued after revising the number of missing people from 86 to 84.

Firefighters reach vessel

Thick smoke and extreme heat had prevented firefighters from boarding the ferry, which was engulfed in flames on Wednesday night.

The ship’s manifest listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members. Authorities reduced the number of missing after verifying that two people named on the manifest had not been on board.

Aerial footage showed a Coast Guard helicopter hovering over the vessel, whose upper decks were blackened by fire. Light smoke continued to rise from parts of the ferry, though it was thinner than the plumes seen a day earlier. Two firefighters were visible on an upper deck.

Survivor account

Survivor Richard Marceliano told GMA News that he saw a small amount of smoke that quickly became a raging fire and spread through the ferry within seconds.

He said he and other passengers spent nearly two hours floating in the sea before being rescued.

Families await news

As the search continued, families of those still unaccounted for waited for information.

Jonnsban Tibay, 60, said a trip intended to celebrate the renewal of his wedding vows had brought grief and uncertainty after his wife, Eden, was aboard the ferry.

The couple were on a video call when the fire began. “She said, ‘We’re leaving now.’ I told her not to hang up and that we should keep the video call going. I was about to ask her to join our prayer when the call suddenly cut off,” Tibay said.

Tibay said he did not believe his wife had escaped the ship. “I’m 100 per cent certain she didn’t jump. She must have been trapped,” he said. “She was diabetic and physically weak. She was no longer as agile as before.”