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Cebu: More than 800 people were missing on Monday after a Philippine ferry capsized in a typhoon that has killed scores of people.
Sulpicio Lines, the owner of the MV Princess of Stars, revised the number of people missing to 845 after discovering an extra 100 passengers on the ship's manifest.
Rescue officials on Sunday said there was no sign of survivors at the site of the capsized ship, which is upside down with only its bow above the waves.
"Many of us jumped, the waves were so huge, and the rains were heavy," a survivor identified only as Jesse told local radio.
"There was just one announcement over the megaphone, about 30 minutes before the ship tilted to its side...the older people were left on the ship," he said.
At least 137 people have been confirmed dead, with 101 of the total number of dead reported in Iloilo, Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon said.
"This (toll) will definitely rise dramatically when we get the listings from the ship," he said, referring to the Princess of the Stars ferry that sank off Sibuyan island on Saturday.
Four people have been confirmed dead and four survivors found so far.
A coast guard spokesman said rescuers did not find any sign of survivors at the site of the capsized ferry late on Sunday.
"They haven't seen anyone. They're scouring the area. They're studying the direction of the waves to determine where survivors may have drifted," said Lieutenant Senior Grade Arman Balilo.
Cebu coast guard spokesman Antonio Cuasito said several men swam to the ship and knocked on the hull with metal instruments, "but there was negative response."
A search and rescue operation was suspended on Sunday because of big waves.
In the central city of Cebu, where Princess of Stars was meant to dock, dozens of relatives maintained a vigil at a small passenger terminal, waiting for news.
"The last time I heard from my son was on Friday evening when the ship left Manila. He texted to say he was coming home," said Celecia Tudtud, a mother of four. "I really hope he's okay," she said, wiping away tears.
Typhoon Fengshen swept through the central Philippines on Saturday. On Sunday, the typhoon hit Manila and surrounding areas, cutting off power supply to hundreds of homes.
The typhoon also hit Manila and northern Luzon, triggering floods and landslides and forcing the cancellation of domestic and international flights. It is now headed towards Taiwan.
Tens of thousands of people were also left stranded by the flash floods and over 30,000 people were being housed in evacuation centres in central and southern Philippines.
Meanwhile, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered an inquiry into the ferry incident.
"Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning?'' she said from a meeting in the US, where she is on an official visit.
Have your say
Do you know of anyone affected by the typhoon? How have they coped with it? Tell us the story by filling in the form below or by sending your comments to letter2editor@gulfnews.com.
Your comments
There has been heavy rainfall in Lucban, Quezon brought by the typhoon. On Saturday late night, it got so bad it was impossible to reach my parents on the mobile phone. They're living on their own and I was worried they might have been affected heavily by the flood.
Estrella
Quezon,Philippines
Posted: June 22, 2008, 17:55
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