The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has concluded its search operations following a fire on the ro/ro ship June Aster, which encountered an incident near Palawan last week. The ship has sustained serious damage from the fire and is currently in a state of sinking.
Complete Search of the June Aster
After thoroughly searching all passenger areas of the ship, PCG is now inspecting the cargo decks. So far, a total of 76 bodies have been recovered from the incident site. Passengers faced smoke and flames during the fire and were confronted with rows of bunk beds packed tightly on the upper deck. Provided images show that these areas have been completely examined.
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Ship Status and Rescue Request
PCG has sent a letter to the ship's owner requesting that a qualified rescuer be appointed soon. The ship is currently in a state of sinking, and its structural condition is uncertain. Reports also indicate that water is entering the engine room. PCG is in the process of removing oily waste from this section and storing it in containers but seeks to transfer responsibility for pollution reduction and rescue to a qualified private contractor.
The damage to the ship is extensive, and a structural assessment is essential. Interior images show that the fire spread violently on the cargo deck, burning colors and leaving only steel remnants and charred debris. Videos obtained on the night of the fire show that parts of the ship's hull had heated to the point of becoming dull red, indicating steel temperatures above 1300 degrees Fahrenheit.
These temperatures align with those of burning vehicles and could lead to changes in the physical properties of steel. Such changes may impact rescue planning. Given these conditions, PCG is seriously planning the next stages of rescue and assessing the ship's status.
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