Over 800 missing after Philippines ferry sinks

Updated: Sunday, 22 June 2008

A ferry has capsized in the Philippines with more than 800 people on board, four have been found dead.

1 of 4 Philippines Typhoon Fengshen lashes the country
Philippines
Typhoon Fengshen lashes the country
2 of 4 Philippines Weather destroys buildings
Philippines
Weather destroys buildings
3 of 4 Philippines Rain triggers floods
Philippines
Rain triggers floods
4 of 4 Philippines Hampered by weather
Philippines
Hampered by weather

A ferry in the Philippines with more than 800 people on board has capsized during a typhoon.

Four bodies have so far been found in San Fernando. Three survivors have also been found.

There were some 845 people on board, the ferry's owner has confirmed. That is over 100 more than originally reported.

The ship, en route from the capital Manila to the central island of Cebu and 16 hours into its 22-hour voyage, issued a distress signal before going down.

One of the known survivors, crew member Reynato Lanorio, said the ship listed and sank in just 15 minutes.

He said four other people on his raft were wrenched away by the big waves while he clung on.

A police boat reached the site early this morning, and officers found the ferry flipped over with only its bow visible above the water line. The ferry sank about 3km from shore near Sibuyan Island.

President Gloria Arroyo demanded to know why the ferry was allowed to leave from Manila with the typhoon about to hit the country.

Typhoon Fengshen swept through the central Philippines yesterday, leaving at least 229 people dead elsewhere and another 27 missing as heavy rains and strong winds triggered floods and landslides that destroyed buildings.

Tens of thousands of people were also left stranded by the flash floods, while power to towns was also knocked out.

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