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| Philippines ferry hit by typhoon | Philippines ferry hit by typhoon |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fears are growing for more than 700 people on board a ferry which has capsized in the central Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. | Fears are growing for more than 700 people on board a ferry which has capsized in the central Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. |
| A rescue ship that managed to reach the vessel more than 24 hours after it lost radio contact reported no sign of life. | |
| There are only four known survivors - one told local media that passengers had just minutes to abandon ship. | |
| The Red Cross estimates some 155 people have died across the country in floods and landslides caused by the storm. | The Red Cross estimates some 155 people have died across the country in floods and landslides caused by the storm. |
| The vessel left Manila on Friday en route to Cebu, and according to its owners, Sulpicio Lines, contact was lost at about 1230 (0430 GMT) on Saturday. | |
| TIMELINE OF EVENTS Ferry leaves Manila on Friday626 passengers and 121 crew on boardEngines failed Saturday afternoonRadio contact lost soon afterwardsRescuers reach ship on Sunday afternoon In pictures: Philippines typhoon | |
| The four known survivors, named as Jesus Gica, Oliver Amorin, Jessie Buot and Renato Lanorio, have been telling local media about their experiences. | |
| Mr Lanoria said he had been on the top deck when a crew member ordered passengers to put on life jackets at about 1130 on Saturday. | |
| He said that about 30 minutes later, the ship tilted and elderly people and children slipped on the rain-soaked deck. | |
| Jesus Gica said he was worried that many people had been trapped below deck. | |
| "There were many of us who jumped overboard, but we were separated because of the big waves," he said. | |
| "The others were also able to board the life rafts, but it was useless because the strong winds flipped them over." | |
| The four managed to swim to the shore of Sibuyan, in Romblon province, where they were found by villagers, according to government officials. | |
| The 23,824-tonne ferry, the Princess of the Stars, has a passenger capacity of 1,992. | |
| There is some confusion over the number of people on board. The ship's list states it was carrying 626 passengers and 121 crew. Local reports put the figure as high as 820. | |
| As night falls hopes are fading of finding other survivors. | |
| The Philippine President, Gloria Arroyo, has demanded an explanation as to why the ferry was allowed to leave port on Friday despite warnings that a typhoon was about to hit. | The Philippine President, Gloria Arroyo, has demanded an explanation as to why the ferry was allowed to leave port on Friday despite warnings that a typhoon was about to hit. |
| We were not really worried because it was not raining here at all - but the ship should not have been allowed to leave Lina SalinasRelative | |
| "Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning? I want answers," she told civil defence and coast guard authorities during a briefing on the accident. | "Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning? I want answers," she told civil defence and coast guard authorities during a briefing on the accident. |
| Worried relatives have been gathering at the offices of Sulpicio Lines. | Worried relatives have been gathering at the offices of Sulpicio Lines. |
| One relative, Lina Salinas, said she had waved off her sister on the 22-hour voyage on Friday. | |
| "We knew it was signal number 1 (the first stage of typhoon alerts) at the time, but we were not really worried because it was not raining here at all," Ms Salinas was quoted by AFP news agency as saying. | |
| "But the ship should not have been allowed to leave," she said. | "But the ship should not have been allowed to leave," she said. |
| A spokesman for the company said the priority was the search and rescue of passengers and that there would be no talk of responsibility at present. | A spokesman for the company said the priority was the search and rescue of passengers and that there would be no talk of responsibility at present. |
| The mayor of San Fernando, a coastal town in Sibuyan, said that four bodies had washed ashore on Sunday, including a man and a woman who had tied themselves together. | |
| She said the upturned ferry could be seen from shore with its bow jutting out of the water. | She said the upturned ferry could be seen from shore with its bow jutting out of the water. |
| Burst river | Burst river |
| Typhoon Fengshen swept across the central Philippines on Saturday, leaving some 59 people dead and dozens more missing. | Typhoon Fengshen swept across the central Philippines on Saturday, leaving some 59 people dead and dozens more missing. |
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| Emergency workers rescue those trapped by flood waters | |
| In Iloilo, a central province, chief administrator Manuel Mejorada said most of the victims had been killed as a result of flooding caused by the storm. | |
| "Yesterday there was hardly any villages and communities which were not under water, and where the people were literally stranded on rooftops with no food and no water, and chilling in the cold. | "Yesterday there was hardly any villages and communities which were not under water, and where the people were literally stranded on rooftops with no food and no water, and chilling in the cold. |
| "Right now the floodwaters have receded, and we are shifting our efforts to bringing food, water, medicine and clothing," he told the BBC. | "Right now the floodwaters have receded, and we are shifting our efforts to bringing food, water, medicine and clothing," he told the BBC. |
| At its peak, the storm was packing gusts of up to 93mph (150 km/h). It changed course on Sunday, hitting the capital Manila with heavy rainfall at dawn. | At its peak, the storm was packing gusts of up to 93mph (150 km/h). It changed course on Sunday, hitting the capital Manila with heavy rainfall at dawn. |
| Thousands of people across the country have been evacuated from their homes. Many roads are blocked and there are widespread power cuts. | Thousands of people across the country have been evacuated from their homes. Many roads are blocked and there are widespread power cuts. |
Are you in the Philippines? Do you know someone who may be on the ferry? Have you been affected by the typhoon? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the Philippines? Do you know someone who may be on the ferry? Have you been affected by the typhoon? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |