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| Hundreds saved from doomed ferry | Hundreds saved from doomed ferry |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A rescue operation is under way in the Philippines after a ferry sank with more than 960 people on board. | A rescue operation is under way in the Philippines after a ferry sank with more than 960 people on board. |
| Coastguards say 900 people have now been rescued from the SuperFerry 9 but five people have died and more than 60 are still unaccounted for. | Coastguards say 900 people have now been rescued from the SuperFerry 9 but five people have died and more than 60 are still unaccounted for. |
| The passenger ferry was sailing off the southern Zamboanga peninsula when it began listing. | The passenger ferry was sailing off the southern Zamboanga peninsula when it began listing. |
| It issued a distress call, prompting the coastguard, the navy, the air force and private boats to help. | It issued a distress call, prompting the coastguard, the navy, the air force and private boats to help. |
| The SuperFerry 9 was sailing overnight from a southern port | The SuperFerry 9 was sailing overnight from a southern port |
| The Philippine Defence Minister, Gilberto Teodoro, told the BBC that the rescue operation had been helped by good weather and the presence of other vessels close to the site. | |
| The SuperFerry 9 was said to be carrying 847 passengers and 117 crew plus four sea marshals on its journey from General Santos to Iloilo. | |
| A statement issued on the SuperFerry website said that the ship began listing to the right at 0230 on Sunday (1830 GMT Saturday). | A statement issued on the SuperFerry website said that the ship began listing to the right at 0230 on Sunday (1830 GMT Saturday). |
| Passengers were told to don life jackets while the captain tried to correct the list, the statement said. | Passengers were told to don life jackets while the captain tried to correct the list, the statement said. |
| When the captain determined that the list was irreversible, he gave the order to abandon ship, and life rafts were launched. | When the captain determined that the list was irreversible, he gave the order to abandon ship, and life rafts were launched. |
| The statement said that the crew were the last to leave the ship at 0842 local time, when the ferry tilted and sank. | The statement said that the crew were the last to leave the ship at 0842 local time, when the ferry tilted and sank. |
| Officials said that those rescued were transferred to navy ships, two nearby civilian vessels and other smaller boats which had responded to the Mayday call. | Officials said that those rescued were transferred to navy ships, two nearby civilian vessels and other smaller boats which had responded to the Mayday call. |
| The Philippine air force and army have sent helicopters to help in the search for those still missing. | The Philippine air force and army have sent helicopters to help in the search for those still missing. |
| Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, of the Philippine coastguard, said he hoped those unaccounted for had been rescued by a fleet of fishing vessels and small boats. | Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, of the Philippine coastguard, said he hoped those unaccounted for had been rescued by a fleet of fishing vessels and small boats. |
| The cause of the sinking was unknown, but the weather was reported to be fair at the time of the incident. | The cause of the sinking was unknown, but the weather was reported to be fair at the time of the incident. |
| PHILIPPINES' WORST FERRY DISASTERS 1987: More than 4,300 people die when the Dona Paz ferry collides with an oil tanker off Mindoro island - the world's worst peacetime shipping disaster2008: More than 800 people killed when the Princess of the Stars ferry capsizes during a typhoon1988: Dona Paz's sister ship, Dona Marilyn, sinks off Leyte province, killing 250-300 people1998: The Princess of the Orient ferry sinks near Batangas province, killing 150-200 people1994: About 140 people die when a freighter hits the Cebu City ferry in Manila Bay2004: A fire aboard the Superferry 14 kills 116 people near Manila Bay. Abu Sayyaf claims it planted a bomb on board | PHILIPPINES' WORST FERRY DISASTERS 1987: More than 4,300 people die when the Dona Paz ferry collides with an oil tanker off Mindoro island - the world's worst peacetime shipping disaster2008: More than 800 people killed when the Princess of the Stars ferry capsizes during a typhoon1988: Dona Paz's sister ship, Dona Marilyn, sinks off Leyte province, killing 250-300 people1998: The Princess of the Orient ferry sinks near Batangas province, killing 150-200 people1994: About 140 people die when a freighter hits the Cebu City ferry in Manila Bay2004: A fire aboard the Superferry 14 kills 116 people near Manila Bay. Abu Sayyaf claims it planted a bomb on board |
| The ferry ran into trouble about 530 miles (860km) south of the Philippine capital, Manila. | The ferry ran into trouble about 530 miles (860km) south of the Philippine capital, Manila. |
| One passenger said the ship began listing in the middle of the night, but he was assured by the crew that everything was all right. | One passenger said the ship began listing in the middle of the night, but he was assured by the crew that everything was all right. |
| However, a couple of hours later the situation worsened. | However, a couple of hours later the situation worsened. |
| "The ship shifted suddenly and some people just panicked," a man named as Roger Cinciron was quoted as telling a local radio station by phone. He was speaking from one of the life rafts as he waited to be rescued. | "The ship shifted suddenly and some people just panicked," a man named as Roger Cinciron was quoted as telling a local radio station by phone. He was speaking from one of the life rafts as he waited to be rescued. |
| The ferry had been due to arrive in Iloilo later on Sunday, AP quoted the ship's owner, Aboitiz Transport System, as saying. | |
| A BBC correspondent says maritime accidents are common in the Philippines because of tropical storms, poor ship maintenance and lax safety enforcement. | A BBC correspondent says maritime accidents are common in the Philippines because of tropical storms, poor ship maintenance and lax safety enforcement. |
| Are you in the area? Did you see what happened? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the area? Did you see what happened? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |