Philippine Ferry Fire Kills 76; Victim Identification May Take Months

Philippine authorities warn it could take weeks or months to identify the 76 victims of a deadly ferry fire that broke out as the vessel approached the tourist destination of Coron. The MV June Aster was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew members when it caught fire overnight on September 9th, leaving 43 rescued and 13 individuals still missing. Police coroner Richard Allan Mangalip explained the lengthy timeline for recovery, telling reporters that “a large portion of them are already burned.” Officials are currently gathering forensic evidence and have urged families of the deceased to provide DNA samples and personal belongings to aid in the difficult identification process.