At least five people were killed and 87 others missing after a fire broke out on a passenger ferry in the Philippines on Wednesday.

The country’s coastguard said the incident occurred near a popular tourist destination in Palawan province.

A video on social media showed that the ferry MV June Aster was afloat as it was engulfed in flames.

The affected ferry was reportedly sailing from Manila and was very close to Coron in Palawan province when the fire broke out.

Coastguard spokeswoman, Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, said 43 people had been rescued so far, noting the cause of the incident remained unknown.

Noting that 134 people were on board, composed of 117 passengers and 17 crew, Ms Cayabyab added that there was no information about any foreigners on board.

“Based on the data we have right now on the rescued and the casualties, we still have 87 people who are unaccounted for. We are continuing search and rescue operations,” she stated.

She added that a combined team, including response boats, a military vessel and other government boats, private fishermen and volunteers, had joined a coastguard vessel in the effort to rescue victims.

“Just to make it clear, this is live data and may change, as our search and rescue operations are ongoing. We have not yet been able to obtain information from the rescued individuals because we have not been able to speak with them,” Ms Cayabyab noted.

The development adds to the list of ferry incidents in the Philippine archipelago, driven by frequent storms, dysfunctional boats, and weak enforcement of safety regulations.

At least 18 people were killed, and dozens went missing after a ferry carrying more than 350 people capsized in the southern Philippines in January.