At least 5 dead, more than 80 missing in Philippines passenger ferry fire

At least five people are dead, and more than 85 people are missing after a fire broke out on a passenger ferry in a busy tourist area of the Philippines. The M/V June Aster caught fire 1.2 nautical miles northeast of the city of Coron around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the country’s coast guard said. 0:23 Fire destroys pleasure boat near Deep Cove Story continues below advertisement So far, 43 people have been rescued, Philippine Coast Guard spokeswoman Commodore Noemie Cayabyab told the Associated Press.Footage, shared by local authorities shows large sections of the vessel engulfed in flames and survivors being pulled out of the water onto rescue boats. Officials were also filmed slinging life jackets to survivors as they were guided to shallower waters.The Philippine Coast Guard also shared several images of black body bags laid out in what appeared to be a port.The cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities wrote in a Facebook update Thursday. Get breaking National news Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won't miss a trending story. Bad weather and large waves posed a challenge to rescue efforts, the Associated Press reported, not...