(Ferry Fire. Photo by Gaydio)
A large rescue operation is underway off the Philippines after a passenger ferry caught fire, killing five people and leaving dozens of passengers missing.
The ferry was traveling from Manila to Coron, a popular tourist destination in Palawan, when it caught fire on Wednesday night.
The Philippine Coast Guard deployed multiple vessels and rescue teams to search for survivors.
Based on the ship’s records, which listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members, authorities estimate that more than 80 people remain unaccounted for.
So far, 43 people have been rescued.
Rescue teams are struggling to work because thick smoke is still coming from the burned ferry and there are concerns about extreme heat and the risk of explosions.
This means rescuers have not yet been able to enter the vessel.
The Coast Guard is using special tools to predict where currents may have carried missing people.
Drone footage shows the blackened ferry surrounded by blue-green water, still smoking hours after the fire started.
The burned ship has also drifted farther out overnight because of currents and winds, making the rescue effort more challenging.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Ferry travel is a common way for people to get around in the Philippines, which has thousands of islands.
However, the country has had problems with ferry safety in the past, with disasters often linked to overcrowding, bad weather and weak safety enforcement.
