Philippines ferry fire toll reaches 35 as bodies brought ashore for identification
Authorities reported 35 confirmed deaths from the September 9 June Aster ferry fire as recovered bodies arrived in Coron on September 12. Retrieval operations continue, with 54 people still unaccounted for.
In short
- Authorities reported 35 confirmed deaths from the September 9 June Aster ferry fire as recovered bodies arrived in Coron on September 12.
- Retrieval operations continue, with 54 people still unaccounted for.
The confirmed death toll from the M/V June Aster ferry fire in the Philippines reached 35 by September 12, 2026, as authorities brought recovered bodies ashore for identification and continued searching the burned vessel.
Thirty bodies arrived at a port in Coron, Palawan, on September 12. Five deaths had been confirmed earlier. Coast guard officials said more remains were still aboard, according to [The Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/bc9474e96f2c9febe84c745ced6e9553).
[The Guardian's September 12 report](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/12/death-toll-from-philippines-ferry-fire-rises-to-35-as-officials-warn-toll-will-grow) put the number rescued at 43 and those still unaccounted for at 54. The missing-person count does not establish additional deaths.
Coast guard spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab said recovered remains would be handed to police forensic investigators for identification before families were notified. She said retrieval work remained the immediate priority, with an investigation to follow.
The fire broke out on the evening of September 9 while the ferry was travelling from Manila to Coron. Its cause has not been determined. The operator, Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc, said on September 10 that it was cooperating with investigators.
The latest recovery figures mark a substantial change from the initial September 10 reports of at least five deaths, while the fate of dozens of passengers and crew remains unresolved.
