'People were trampling me': Philippine ferry fire survivor recalls narrow escape

ByVirma Simonette Rivera, Reporting fromManila and Koh Ewe.

Key points

• The fire was first documented at 18: 45 local time on Wednesday night by a staff member of Atienza Shipping Lines.
• Frantic cries pierced the night sky as hot air filled the boat, recalls Roland Lerma, one of more than 100 passengers aboard the MV June Aster.
• But the ferry caught fire just 1.2 nautical miles (2.2km) off the coast of Coron's Marcilla village.
• According to Authorities have since, two Chilean nationals were among the 43 individuals rescued.
• When a fire broke out on the vessel, passengers on board a ferry to the Philippines' Palawan province were jolted into chaos on Wednesday night.

Five individuals have died and 86 residents are missing after the fire, which, in a country where shipping accidents are not uncommon, could become one of the deadliest maritime disasters the Philippines has seen.

While survivors like Lerma are coming to terms with their harrowing escape, families are anxiously awaiting news regarding their loved ones on board.

Speaking to the BBC from a hospital in Coron, Lerma recalled that as the fire spread and he scrambled to obtain off the burning boat, he slipped and fell.

"When I was on the floor, people were trampling me, " remarked the 30-year-old.

He began crawling until he could find his footing again, before leaping off the vessel into the sea.

Though he could not create out their faces in the dark, he remarked he saw children who had additionally jumped in the water.

"When I hit the water, I ditched all my possessions – the clothes I was wearing, phones, bags – so that I could float, " he remarked.

Lerma remarked he floated on his back for concerning two hours before rescuers arrived and pulled him and other survivors out of the water.

"It was cold. If the rescue had been delayed, I would have definitely died last night, " he remarked.

Lerma, who works in construction, is from Leyte province. He had travelled to the capital Manila with five of his neighbours, where they boarded the ferry to bring them to work at Coron, a popular tourist spot in Palawan province.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the MV June Aster departed Manila's Port of Baseco on Tuesday night at 20: 13 local time (12: 13 GMT) and was scheduled to arrive at the Coron port at 18: 00 on Wednesday.

Notably, the fire was first documented at 18: 45 local time on Wednesday night by a staff member of Atienza Shipping Lines. It owns the boat, the Coast Guard stated.

Notably, the firm stated in an official note on Thursday that it was co-operating fully with authorities and expressed "profound sadness" regarding the fire.

Authorities say a survivor had informed them the flames had kicked off in the cargo hold after a loud explosion.

For context, the ship had been carrying a number of motorcycles, an electric car, a forklift, a pick-up van and other goods, the Philippine Coast Guard stated.

As the journey was projected to take more than 20 hours, passengers had slept on bunk beds onboard overnight.

According to Lerma, two Chileans – a couple who looked like they were in their late 20s or early 30s – had slept in the beds next to his.

Lerma and two of his neighbours are now in a hospital in Coron. While two others remain missing, Lerma notes, another person in their group has been taken to a bigger hospital in the neighbouring island of Culion.

"I have a couple of bruises and my chest is still hurting, " Lerma remarked. "Last night, I had a hard time breathing. But I am okay now."

Though authorities say the fire on the MV June Aster has still not been put out and there was visible smoke from the ferry, search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Notably, a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard remarked in a local television interview numerous of the survivors "are still in shock".

Meanwhile, families of the ferry's missing passengers are enduring an agonising wait.

Anelyn Magbanua informed the BBC that her husband Marlon was on the ferry. He was returning to Coron after visiting Manila to see two of their children who are studying at the capital.

"He spent a couple of days there. He even sent me their pictures, " she remarked.

She last heard from him while the ferry was passing through a village regarding two hours from the port in Coron.

Magbanua and her two-year-old son had gone to bed early on Wednesday night expecting Marlon to be home shortly.

But she was woken up afterwards that night by a relative who informed her that her husband's ferry had caught fire.

On Thursday she rushed to the hospital when she heard there was a chance her husband might be one of the rescued survivors there. But authorities have since informed her that Marlon remains unaccounted for.

"My two-year-old son and I are outside the hospital as we speak. We have nothing but ourselves, " she informed the BBC over the phone.

"I can't describe what I am feeling right now. I have been crying and praying since last night."

For now, ' People were trampling me' : Philippine ferry fire survivor recalls narrow escape remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.