A large-scale search and rescue operation was underway off the western Philippine island of Palawan after a passenger ferry caught fire, killing at least five people and leaving dozens of passengers missing ▻ ↧ Philippines deploys vessels as rescuers seek access to burned ferry The Philippines ‌has deployed coast guard, military and civilian vessels in a race to find survivors on a smouldering passenger-and-cargo ferry off the western island of Palawan, after a fire on board killed at least five people and left more than 80 missing.