2013-08-17 19:32:30

Dozens killed in Philippine's ferry accident


(Vatican Radio) At least 31 people are dead and about 170 are missing after a collision between a cargo ship and a ferry in the Philippines.

The ferry was approaching the port of Cebu in the central Philippines when it collided with a cargo vessel heading the other way. It was after dark, and the ferry sank within 30 minutes.

The Philippines transport secretary said there were more than 800 crew and passengers aboard the ferry. The figure included dozens of infants.

Many passengers were said to have been asleep at the time of the collision.

It happened about two kilometres offshore. Fishing boats joined the coast guard in pulling survivors from the water, and when daylight broke many life rafts were seen floating near the cargo ship, which itself did not sink.

Officials said survivors might still be aboard the sunken ferry, caught inside in air pockets. Divers have been going down, but early exploration recovered only bodies.

The sunken ship, the Thomas Aquinas, was a roll on roll off type ferry running a regular route within the Philippines.

The transport secretary said it was struck on its right-hand side, an indication, analysts said, that it may have failed to give way to the approaching cargo vessel, as is required in those circumstances under the international maritime rule of the road.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn's report: RealAudioMP3







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