A passenger ferry carrying 134 people caught fire near Palawan Island in the Philippines on Wednesday, leaving at least five dead and 87 others missing.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that the vessel, M/V June Aster, caught fire while navigating approximately 2.2 kilometers off the coast of the popular tourist destination. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the ferry entirely engulfed in flames.

Coast Guard Captain Noemi Cayabyab told AFP that rescue teams responded swiftly after receiving reports of the blaze. Emergency responders have rescued 42 survivors—comprising 38 passengers and four crew members—and recovered five bodies from the water.

"Many passengers panicked and jumped into the sea as the fire spread rapidly. At least 87 people remain missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing," Cayabyab said.

The cause of the fire remains unclear. Officials noted that investigators have yet to interview survivors to determine what triggered the disaster.

According to vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic, the ferry was en route from the capital, Manila, to Palawan when the incident occurred.