There were two explosions before the fire that broke out on board MV June Aster and left at least five dead and 86 people unaccounted for.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) did not say what triggered the successive explosions recounted by survivors but Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said an investigation into the incident was "already underway.."
"..And we will see to it that accountability follows wherever it leads," he said.
So far, emergency response operations are also being conducted.
The DOTr said Search and Rescue (SAR) operations are being held by the Philippine Coast Guard, Coron, and local volunteer rescuers.
The Incident Commander, the DOTr said, has designated point persons across all neighboring barangays to ensure the reporting of "any survivors or casualties that may wash ashore."
A multi-agency coordination meeting was also convened for the review of field strategies.
Based on the latest data provided by the government, 48 of the 134 persons on board the vessel are accounted for, of which five are fatalities.
A total of 86 individuals remains unaccounted for.
"Reconciliation and validation of the official passenger manifest against terminal logbooks are ongoing as search and rescue teams work to locate them," the DOTr said.
For the survivors, the DOTr said the local government of Coron has set up an Assistance Center to centralize relief distribution, medical processing, and family coordination.
"MARINA has likewise deployed a dedicated help desk within the LGU assistance center to ensure survivors and families have direct access to information and support. Authorized representatives of the shipowner are also on-site, coordinating the provision of food and logistics and covering the full cost of survivors' hospitalization," the DOTr said.
At present, the agency said MV June Aster is aground near an island approximately 1.5 nautical miles from the Port of Coron.
The vessel, owned by DBP Leasing Corporation and operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries, Inc., encountered the distress situation in the early morning hours of September 9, while on its way from Baseco, Manila to Coron, Palawan.
