Ferry fire in Philippines kills five and leaves over eighty missing

A passenger ferry caught fire near Coron, Palawan, in the western Philippines on Wednesday. At least five people have died and more than eighty are still missing. Rescue teams pulled forty-three survivors from the water. The fire broke out in the sea between the islands, though the cause is not yet known. The Philippines is made up of thousands of islands, so ferries are a common and important way to travel. Because so many people depend on them, accidents like this one can affect large numbers of passengers. Ferry safety has been a serious problem in the region for many years, and disasters have often caused heavy losses of life. Authorities are continuing to search for the missing passengers.