At least 17 passengers were dead and some 19 more went missing after two Philippine passenger ferries collided today, the coast guard said.
Coast guard chief Vice Admiral Reuben Lista said 132 passengers had been rescued, with a massive search operation involving several commercial vessels and navy cutters underway to retrieve as many of the missing as possible.
The wooden-hulled MV San Nicolas, carrying 193 passengers and crew, slammed into the larger Super Ferry 12and sank in choppy waters off the coast of Corregidor island west of Manila.
"The area is very dangerous because there are areas in the coastline that are very rocky," Mr Lista told reporters.
Mr Lista said the Super Ferry did not sustain any significant damage and all its passengers were safe.
The coast guard has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, with weather possibly playing a key role, said Mr Lista.
Ms Gina Virtucio, a spokeswoman for the Super Ferry management, said their vessel was en route to the southern city of Cebu when the San Nicolasrammed into its hull. The smaller boat was returning to Manila from the southwestern island of Palawan.
AFP
