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| Hundreds saved from doomed ferry | Hundreds saved from doomed ferry |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A rescue operation is under way in the Philippines after a ferry sank with more than 960 people on board. | |
| Owners of the Superferry 9 say more than 867 people have been rescued but three people have died and more than 80 are unaccounted for. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 on its journey from General Santos to Ilioilo. | |
| Coastguard officials say the ferry began listing in the early hours of Sunday morning and passengers and crew were told to put on their life vests and get into life rafts. | |
| Those rescued were being transferred to commercial vessels which had responded to the Mayday call. | |
| 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 ferry sent a distress signal about 0400 on Sunday (2100BST Saturday) as it tilted in heavy seas, about 530 miles (860km) south of the Philippine capital, Manila. | The ferry sent a distress signal about 0400 on Sunday (2100BST Saturday) as it tilted in heavy seas, 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 Ilioilo 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. | |
| 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 |