Chlorine, asphalt, faulty ventilation ignited MV June Aster deadly fire, BFP says

This screen grab aerial picture from a handout video taken and received from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on September 10, 2026 shows the ruins of a ferry that caught fire off Palawan. Handout/Philippine Coast Guard/FileMANILA — The fire that killed dozens in passenger vessel MV June Aster stemmed from toppled stocks of chlorine and asphalt that spilled on the ship’s rear cargo area, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said on Friday.

Two “highly-combustible” materials were mixed after the vessel weathered rough sea conditions during its voyage from Baseco in Manila to Coron, Palawan, said BFP officer in charge Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu.

Calcium hypochlorite or chlorine is a corrosive agent that could possibly ignite when mixed with asphalt, Tiu told Palace reporters.

“May sira sa kanilang ventilation kaya mainit ang binubuga na ventilation,” he said, explaining what ignited the highly-combustible mixture aboard the ship.

The fire took place on September 9 off the coast of Coron town in Palawan. 

So far, 77 have been reported dead and more than 60 others injured. 

“Possibly bago nila naramdaman ang init, they were already suffocated… kaya marami po ang casualties,” he said.

Authorities are still looking for dozens of passengers who remain missing, the BFP chief said.

The owner and operators of the MV June Aster may face charges of reckless imprudence resulting into homicide.

Meanwhile, government officials who would be found liable for allowing the ship to sail despite faulty systems will be slapped with cases for violation of the Anti-Corrupt Practices Act, Tiu said.