The United Arab Emirates has officially extended its sympathies to the Philippines following a devastating fire aboard a ferry near the island of Palawan. In a formal statement released on Thursday, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep solidarity with the nation, offering heartfelt condolences to the families of those lost and to the Filipino people. Given the significant size of the Filipino expatriate community living and working in the UAE, this tragedy has been felt deeply by many within the country.

Meanwhile, emergency responders in the Philippines are working tirelessly to manage the aftermath of the blaze, which ignited on the M/V June Aster late Wednesday evening. While five fatalities have been confirmed and dozens of survivors rescued, authorities report that over 80 people remain missing. Investigations into the cause of the disaster are still in the preliminary stages; however, early reports from survivors mention hearing a loud explosion in the cargo hold. Search efforts have been hampered by the ongoing fire, leaving rescuers unable to fully access the vessel where others may still be trapped.