A large passenger ferry caught fire near Palawan, a western island in the Philippines, on Wednesday night. The ferry was travelling from Baseco in Manila to Coron, a place known for its beaches and diving spots. At least five people died and more than 80 are missing. The ferry had 117 passengers and 17 crew members. By Thursday, rescuers had saved 43 people, including two people from Chile. The Philippine Coast Guard is leading a big search and rescue operation using boats, special technology, and aircraft waiting to help if the weather is good.

The fire started when the ferry was on its way to Coron. The reason for the fire is still not known, and authorities are investigating. Ferries like this are very important in the Philippines because the country has more than 7,600 islands, and many people travel by boat between them.

The main result is that many people are still missing, and rescuers are searching the area around Palawan. Helping the missing passengers is now the top priority for the authorities.