Search and rescue operations are underway after the passenger vessel MV June Aster, carrying 134 people, caught fire off Coron, Palawan, on Wednesday evening.
As of 8:20 a.m. on September 10, 43 people had been rescued, while more than 80 others remained missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, the PCG said the number of fatalities remained at five.
PCG spokesperson commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the bodies of the five fatalities were brought to the Barangay Turda Covered Court before being turned over to the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) for proper disposition.
The vessel had departed from Baseco Port in Manila and was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when the blaze broke out approximately 1.2 nautical miles off Coron Municipality.
Emergency responders remain on the scene as search efforts continue.
