Philippine authorities said it could take weeks or months to identify victims of a ferry fire that killed 76 people last week.
“Most of them are already in a charred condition,” Richard Allan Mangalip, a forensic specialist from the Philippine National Police, told reporters on Sunday. Family members have been asked to help identify victims with personal items or DNA samples.
The MV June Aster was heading from Manila to Coron in Palawan province, a popular holiday destination, when a fire started in its cargo hold and spread rapidly throughout the vessel.
Forty-three people survived the disaster, while 13 people remain unaccounted for, authorities said.
Mangalip said they were “trying [their] best to collect the possible identifying marks” from victims’ remains.
But it was hard to give a clear timeline on how long the identification process would take because of the volume of specimens, he said, adding, “It could be weeks, or it could be months.”
A coast guard official said on Saturday that the priority was identifying victims and determining the cause of the blaze.
The fire continued burning for more than a day, releasing heat and toxic fumes that impeded search and rescue operations. It took more than 40 hours before rescuers could board the ship in search of survivors.
The MV June Aster had set off last Tuesday from Manila to Coron, a popular destination among both local and foreign tourists, known for its beaches and WW2 shipwreck diving sites.
Besides tourists, there were also passengers on the ferry who had been travelling to Coron for work or to visit family.
Survivors recall hearing a loud explosion before seeing smoke and fire. When fire engulfed the ship, chaos erupted on board, they said.
One told the BBC that he had been trampled after falling on the floor. He jumped off the boat into the sea before being rescued hours later.
But many burned to death on the ship. Mangalip said at the press conference on Sunday that some victims’ remains were found clustered together in parts of the vessel.
“Our thoughts are also with the survivors and families still waiting for news of their loved ones,” the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement on Sunday. “We recognise the pain and uncertainty they continue to endure as recovery and identification efforts remain underway.”
