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Philippine vessels collide at sea | Philippine vessels collide at sea |
(20 minutes later) | |
At least 27 people are missing after a passenger ferry collided with a fishing boat in the Philippines, officials say. | At least 27 people are missing after a passenger ferry collided with a fishing boat in the Philippines, officials say. |
The wooden-hulled ferry and the fishing boat were between them carrying at least 73 people when they collided in Manila Bay in the early hours. | |
Coastguard spokesman Commander Armando Balilo told local media 46 people had been rescued from the waters. | |
There were no reports of bad weather conditions in the area and the cause of the collision is not yet clear. | |
It comes as thousands of people in the Philippines travel home for the Christmas period. | It comes as thousands of people in the Philippines travel home for the Christmas period. |
"These are small, wooden vessels," Mr Balilo was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. | "These are small, wooden vessels," Mr Balilo was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. |
He said rescue teams had been dispatched and boats in the area had also been asked to help hunt for survivors, reported AFP. | He said rescue teams had been dispatched and boats in the area had also been asked to help hunt for survivors, reported AFP. |
Maritime accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of tropical weather, badly maintained passenger boats and weak enforcement of safety regulations. | Maritime accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of tropical weather, badly maintained passenger boats and weak enforcement of safety regulations. |