Deaths as Philippine ferry capsizes

Deaths as Philippine ferry capsizes

A ferry with nearly 100 passengers on board has capsized in the northeastern Philippines, leaving more than 50 people dead or missing.

The wooden-hulled ferry was approaching its destination in Aparri town in Cagayan province when it overturned near the mouth of the Cagayan river on Sunday evening after being battered by big waves, police Senior Inspector Alex de los Santos said.
It had made a seven-hour journey from Calayan islands in the Luzon Strait.
De los Santos said police and villagers rescued 43 people late on Sunday and recovered 22 bodies, including a 1-year-old boy.
But bad weather was hampering search and rescue operations for 34 people still missing, he added.
Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of tropical storms, badly maintained boats and weak enforcement of safety regulations.
Last month, a cargo ship sank in rough seas north of Cagayan, and passing vessels plucked 16 of 20 people from shark-infested waters.
Weeks earlier, separate storms capsized two passenger boats in the central Philippines, drowning more than 50 people.
The state weather bureau warned over the weekend of an approaching storm from the Pacific with winds of up to 95kph.
Tropical Storm Dolphin could become a typhoon before getting closer to the eastern Philippines in the next few days, according to forecasts.
PHOTO CAPTION
Map of Philippines locating Aparri town.
Al-Jazeera

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