Authorities have recovered an initial 30 cadavers from the fire-ravaged MV June Aster in the waters off Coron, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Friday night.

As of Saturday morning, September 12, the PCG said the death toll had risen to 35, while 43 people survived and 53 others remained missing.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said retrieval operations began at around 5:16 p.m. Friday, with the remains recovered and transferred using the BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411).

The remains are expected to be brought to the Port of Borac in Coron, Palawan, at around 11 a.m. Saturday for proper identification and processing.

The MV June Aster caught fire at around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, September 9, while sailing from Manila to Coron. The fire was declared extinguished at around 10:15 a.m. Friday.

The ferry had departed from Baseco Port in Manila carrying 134 people, including 117 passengers and 17 crew members, when the fire broke out. The vessel was about 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla in Coron, Palawan, at the time of the incident.