By Douglas Bakshian
Manila
22 June 2008
28 Survivors Escape Sunken Philippine Ferry, 800 Missing
Philippine media say authorities have found a group of 28 survivors from a passenger ferry that capsized during a
typhoon with more than 800 people on board. In addition, dozens of lives have been lost in flooding and mudslides on
some of the many islands that make up the nation. Douglas Bakshian reports from Manila.
The Philippine coast guard found the ferry, MV Princess of Stars, Sunday off the coast of the central island of Sibuyan.
It was capsized with only the rear part of the keel sticking out of the water. A few survivors have been found on the
island. Several bodies also washed up there and villagers said many children's slippers, thought to be from the ship,
were washed ashore.
Search and rescue operations continue but high seas are making things difficult. Divers are checking the wreck. The
ferry, carrying more than 700 passengers and crew, left Manila Friday heading for the central island of Cebu. However,
it ran aground Saturday when its engine failed. Radio communication was cut off following the accident.
The typhoon began slamming the cental Philippines hard on Saturday. The central island province of Iloilo was hardest
hit and many of the deaths on land occurred there. Flashfloods and mudslides took their toll.
The southern island of Mindanao also suffered flooding caused by a separate monsoon that was given strength from the
main storm system. The heavy rains and winds knocked out power supplies and flooded roads. Disaster officials say that
all together, more than 360-thousand people have been affected by the flooding. Tens of thousands were placed in
evacuation shelters until the waters receded.
During the height of the storm, a number of domestic flights were grounded and many ships were kept in harbor because of
the rough seas. The capital, Manila, was also blanketed with heavy rains and strong winds, and there were some power
outages.
The storm later headed north through Luzon island. At times the typhoon packed sustained winds of up to 140 kilometers
per hour with gusts of 170 kilometers. The Philippines is an archipelago of more than seven-thousand islands. It is hit
by a number of typhoons and storms each year.
ENDS