Palawan ferry fire: Only 5 of 76 dead identified; 13 hospitalized

CALAPAN CITY — Only five of the 76 people who died in the MV June Aster ferry fire off Coron, Palawan, have been identified and claimed by their families as of Monday night, authorities said.

The Coron Emergency Operations Center (EOC), in its Situation Report No. 7 issued as of 8 p.m. on Monday, said the death toll was at 76, while 12 people remained missing. Forty-four others survived the tragedy.

The EOC said 132 people were aboard the vessel when it caught fire –115 passengers and 17 crew members who left Manila and were bound for Coron.

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READ: 41 ferry fire victims laid to rest in Coron; 12 still missing

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Of the 44 survivors, 13 have been staying at the Regional Evacuation Center, eight at a designated inn, and eight have been reunited with their families. Two uninjured survivors remained to assist passengers admitted at local hospitals.

Thirteen survivors are being treated, with eight confined at the Coron District Hospital and five at the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital.

The EOC said 71 bodies were recovered from the burned wreckage of the MV June Aster, while five other victims were recovered from the sea and subsequently identified and claimed by their families.

Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) teams continued processing the remains to establish the identities of the victims and facilitate their return to their families.

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As of 6 p.m. Monday, DVI teams had processed 50 bodies. Forty-one had been transferred to a temporary resting area by 7 p.m.

The other bodies remained at the DVI collection area for examination.

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READ: Search continues for 12 missing passengers of fire-hit ferry

Authorities were also coordinating DNA identification efforts, particularly for remains that could not be identified through other means.

Search and retrieval operations continued for the 12 people still missing as local and national agencies maintained their response to the maritime disaster.

The EOC said it also established hotlines and assistance desks for relatives seeking information on missing passengers and recovered victims.

The EOC may be reached at 0969-175-5877 and 0945-718-3655, while the Family Help Desk, headed by Mary Joyce Lahoz, may be contacted at 0928-352-0196 or 0936-880-9813.

READ: Coast Guard expands search for survivors of Palawan ferry blaze

The Welfare and Assistance Desk may be reached through Maricel Herrera at 0906-357-0967, or Abegail Gambito at 0981-806-9996 and 0936-072-8283.

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Authorities urged families affected by the tragedy to coordinate with the EOC and DVI teams as identification and retrieval operations continue./coa