A fire on a ferry in the Philippines has resulted in at least five confirmed deaths with dozens more missing. Authorities currently estimate 87 passengers and crew are unaccounted for, a number potentially subject to change as the rescue operation continues. Over forty passengers have been rescued so far, after the fire broke out on the MV June Aster on Wednesday evening. The ferry was travelling from Manila to Coron in the west of the Philippines when the blaze erupted. Strong currents and adverse weather are hindering rescue efforts, pushing the vessel further out to sea, according to the coast guard. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigators have yet to interview any of the rescued passengers. Ferries are a common mode of transportation in the Philippines, but maritime accidents are frequent, often attributed to poor weather, inadequate vessel maintenance, overloading, and lax safety enforcement.