CORON, Philippines — Philippine rescuers recovered 41 more charred remains from the ferry MV June Aster on Saturday, raising the death toll to 76 with 13 people still unaccounted for, Reuters reported. Forensic teams began identifying victims as 30 bodies recovered Friday were brought to Coron port and processed in temporary tents.

The blaze erupted Wednesday evening near the end of a more than 20-hour Manila-to-Coron voyage with more than 130 people aboard. BBC earlier Saturday put the toll at 35 after Friday’s first recovery of 30 bodies — figures that Reuters’ Saturday update superseded. Firefighters first entered Friday after extinguishing the fire more than a day after it broke out; the Coast Guard said burnt remains were found in the economy accommodation section. Official images showed twisted steel bed frames blanketed in ash.

Coast Guard official Geronimo Tuvilla said Saturday the priority was identifying victims and determining the cause. Commodore Noemie Cayabyab spoke at the same press conference. A Maritime Industry Authority statement, citing survivors, said two explosions were heard inside the vessel shortly before the fire. Do not invent a cause beyond that survivor-attributed detail and the open investigation.

Reuters said authorities listed 43 confirmed survivors. Cayabyab said she had information the captain was alive, but his name was not on the survivor list — treat that carefully as unresolved. Philstar earlier Saturday carried the Coast Guard’s 35-dead / 53-missing briefing for timeline context before the additional recoveries.

Evolving death tolls are the story: each recovery pass changes the count. The open record Saturday is 76 dead, 13 missing, forensic ID underway, and an unexplained fire after reported explosions — not a locked cause.

Sources