The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed that 60 of the fatalities in the MV June Aster fire in Coron, Palawan, have been identified, while the identification process for 11 others remains ongoing.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Coron has coordinated with the families of the 60 identified victims regarding the identification and retrieval of their remains.
Two claimants have personally visited the EOC to process the necessary requirements, although no remains have been formally claimed so far.
Meanwhile, the Coron local government has established a one-stop-shop assistance desk at the EOC to help families process the release of the remains. The desk operates from Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The PCG is continuing its investigation into the fire, including the reported presence of an electric vehicle in the vessel’s cargo hold when the incident occurred.
(Photo Courtesy: PCG)
