60 fatalities of MV June Aster fire incident identified --PCG

Authorities have already identified the 60 fatalities in the MV June Aster fire tragedy last September, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the fatalities were identified by the Philippine National Police Forensic Group, while 11 others are still in the process of identification.

“The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Coron, Palawan, has coordinated with 60 families regarding the identification and claiming process. Two claimants have personally visited the EOC to process the necessary requirements, although no remains have been formally claimed,” she said in a statement.

The PCG said that the local government of Coron has established a one-stop shop assistance desk at the EOC for the release of remains. It is open from Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

One of the points of investigation in the fire that hit the ill-fated incident is the electric vehicle that was reported to be in its cargo hold when the tragedy struck.

One of the survivors has said that the fire started in the ship's cargo hold, where an EV, a pick-up, a forklift, and five motorcycles were. —VAL, GMA Integrated News