Death toll in Philippine ferry fire rises to 35 as more bodies are recovered, with 54 missing

A passenger ferry caught fire near Coron in the Philippines' Palawan province, resulting in a rising death toll of at least 35 people as rescue and recovery operations continue. The blaze tore through the vessel with such speed that passengers faced chaotic conditions, with survivors reporting insufficient time to retrieve life jackets amidst a panicked evacuation.

In addition to the confirmed fatalities, authorities report that 54 individuals remain missing following the disaster. Firefighters have since been able to enter the burned wreckage as recovery efforts progress to account for the missing passengers and determine the full extent of the tragedy.