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At least five people were killed and 87 others are missing after a fire broke out on a ferry in the western Philippines near a tourist spot in Palawan province, the coast guard announced on Thursday.
The fire broke out on Wednesday evening aboard the ferry "M/V John Aster" about 2.2 kilometers off the coast, according to the coast guard, which reported that five bodies were recovered and brought ashore.
A video provided by the coast guard shows a ferry engulfed in flames.
Coast guard commander Noemi Cayabyab told local radio on Thursday morning that 42 people (38 passengers and four crew members) have been rescued so far.
She added, "87 people are still missing."
The passenger manifest shows there were 134 people on board, including passengers and crew, according to the same source, as rescue operations continue.
According to data provided by the "MarineTraffic" website, the ferry had departed from the Philippine capital, Manila.
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