At least five people have died and 86 remain unaccounted for after a fire engulfed a passenger ferry travelling to Coron in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The MV June Aster was carrying 134 passengers and crew when the fire broke out, the Coast Guard said. The vessel was travelling towards Coron, a destination popular with tourists.

Coast Guard Commodore Noemi Cayabyab said 43 people had been rescued according to the BBC. The Coast Guard said the number of people still being located was 86, although Cayabyab stressed that the figure remained subject to change as search and rescue operations continued.

The figures were based on the vessel's manifest, which listed 117 passengers and 17 crew members.

The Coast Guard said the fire was still not fully extinguished during an update on September 10. Smoke remained visible and was continuing to emerge from the vessel, complicating efforts to enter the ship and assess the situation.

The ferry was approximately 7.6 nautical miles, or about 14km, from the coastal village of Turda, according to Cayabyab. Its position had shifted because of earlier winds.

According to the Coast Guard, conditions at sea had improved, with waves not as strong as they were the previous evening. As a result, rescue teams were seeking to make the most of the better weather while dealing with thick smoke from the vessel.

Cayabyab said the Coast Guard planned to enter the ferry to check the vessel and look for anything that could help establish what had happened. The continuing smoke was limiting those efforts.

The search and rescue operation remained under way as families waited for information about relatives who were on board.