Hundreds still missing in ferry disaster
Monday, 23 Jun 2008 14:57
Hundreds of people still missing after typhoon off coast of Philippines
Hundreds of people are still missing after a typhoon off the coast of the Philippines capsized a ferry carrying more than 800 people on Saturday.
So far only 32 survivors from the MV Princess of Stars have been recovered.
Navy divers are expected to begin drilling into the side of the upturned ship to search for potential survivors trapped in air pockets today.
The ferry had left Manila port on Friday morning in the knowledge that its route would not be disrupted by Typhoon Fengshen.
But on Saturday the typhoon changed direction leaving the ship in its wake.
The vessel lost radio contact at 05:30 BST and was flipped over by the intense winds it faced as it was battered by the severe weather system. It was found on Sunday by rescuers.
Of the survivors found from the ferry, 28 were found in a coastal village in the Quezon province.
Reports claim they had been drifting on a life raft for over 24 hours.
On Sunday, Gloria Arroyo, the country's president, asked coastguard authorities why the vessel was allowed to leave when there was information about an approaching typhoon.
During a briefing of civil defence and coast guard authorities, she was quoted by the BBC as saying: "Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning? I want answers."
Elsewhere in the Philippines, some 160 people have been killed in the typhoon.