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Philippine vessels collide at sea Philippine vessels collide at sea
(about 5 hours 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.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.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.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. Rush to rescue
Both of the vessels have sunk. The passenger ferry was on its way to Lubang island southeast of Manila.
Mr Balilo said rescue teams had been dispatched and boats in the area had also been asked to help hunt for survivors, reported AFP. PREVIOUS DISASTERS Oct 1988 - Dona Marilyn ferry sinks off central island of Leyte; more than 250 deadDec 1994 - Singaporean freighter hits the ferry Cebu City in Manila Bay; about 140 deadSep 1998 - Princess of the Orient ferry sinks off Batangas City south of Manila; about 150 deadApr 2000 - cargo vessel Anahanda, overloaded with passengers, sinks off southern island of Jolo; about 100 deadFeb 2004 - Islamist militants bomb Superferry 14 near Manila Bay; 116 deadJune 2008 - Princess of the Stars capsizes in typhoon off central island of Sibuyan; hundreds dead
"This is a small vessel with a single wooden hull. Water rushed in and the vessel sank not long after the collision," coastguard Commodore Luis Tuazon told local radio.
The other vessel - a 369-tonne fishing boat named Nathalia - was damaged but was afloat, said coastguard spokesman Commander Armando Balilo.
It had been on an extended fishing trip in the Turtle islands in the southern Philippines and was returning to the Navotas port in northern Manila.
Earlier coastguard reports said both vessels had sunk and had put the number missing at 37.
"Some of those rescued are now aboard the Nathalia," Mr Balilo said.
He said three coastguard ships and a plane had been dispatched and at least eight other ships in the area had also been asked to help hunt for survivors, AFP news agency reported.
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.
In June 2008, hundreds of people were killed when a 23,000-tonne ferry - Princess of the Stars - capsized during a typhoon off the central island of Sibuyan. The world's worst maritime disaster in peacetime occurred in December 1987. More than 4,000 people died when the Dona Paz ferry collided with a tanker.
In December 1987, more than 4,000 people died when the Dona Paz ferry collided with a tanker in the world's worst maritime disaster in peacetime. Despite frequent government promises to improve safety in a key transport lifeline, the accidents have continued.