MV June Aster fire death toll hits 77

The death toll from the MV June Aster fire off Coron, Palawan has climbed to 77 after a crew member who initially survived the disaster died in a hospital, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the crew member was declared dead at 11:34 a.m. Tuesday by the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital.

With the latest fatality, the number of survivors dropped to 43, while 12 people remain missing out of the 132 individuals listed in the vessel’s ticket manifest.

The PCG said it continues to coordinate with concerned authorities in the recovery operations and investigation into the tragedy.

The fire erupted aboard the vessel on Sept. 9 while it was sailing from Batangas to Coron.

Meanwhile, the ship’s captain, Roel Sarmiento, who had been missing since the fire broke out, voluntarily surfaced and appeared before authorities on Monday for questioning about his whereabouts.

The PCG has also ordered Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., the vessel’s operator, to hire a salvor to assist in siphoning operations and determine the structural condition of the ship.