Five people were killed and 87 remained missing after a ferry caught fire off Palawan in the western Philippines on Wednesday night, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Thursday.Footage released by the Coast Guard showed flames engulfing parts of the MV June Aster, while rescuers were seen recovering bodies and placing them in body bags.The ferry had departed from the Port of Manila and was travelling south towards Coron in Palawan when the fire broke out about 1.2 nautical miles (2.2 km) north-east of Barangay Marcilla.According to the PCG, 42 people were rescued on Wednesday night, including 38 passengers and four crew members. The survivors were taken to an evacuation centre in Barangay Turda, north of Marcilla, as the incident occurred relatively close to the mainland.The Coast Guard said the ferry had 117 passengers and 17 crew members listed on its manifest, bringing the total number of people on board to 134.However, officials cautioned that the figures remain preliminary and could change as search and rescue operations continue. The cause of the fire is also under investigation.Coron, the ferry’s destination, is a popular tourist area known for its clear waters, towering cliffs and World War Two shipwrecks that attract scuba divers.