Deaths in Philippines ferry accidents
Sunday, December 27, 2009
- 28 January 2012: Wikinews Shorts: January 28, 2012
- 13 January 2012: Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world
- 18 November 2011: Philippine court issues arrest warrant for former President Arroyo
- 1 November 2011: Philippines welcomes world's 7 billionth baby
- 3 July 2011: Philippine Foreign Secretary Del Rosario to visit China amid South China Sea territorial dispute
In two separate ferry incidents, more than 40 people are feared dead in the Philippines. The first accident on Thursday involved a wooden ferry near Limbones Island colliding with a large fishing boat, the Nathalia. 46 people were rescued, four confirmed dead. The BBC reports as many as 24 may still be missing from the incident.
The second incident occurred today, south of Manila at Bantagas. The MV Baleno-9 capsized after listing and taking water, drowning three. At least twenty remain missing.
Commander Armand Balilo, a coastguard spokesman, said rescue operations are continuing. "Hopefully their [search] flights will not be fruitless and they may find a few more of the missing," he told a local radio station, "We always hope that there will be survivors."
The Philippines has a history of storms, lax safety enforcement, and aging boats, leading to common ferry accidents despite the island nation's heavy reliance on ferries for transportation.
[edit] Sources
- "Up to 25 feared dead in fresh Philippines ferry tragedy" — BBC News Online, December 27, 2009
- "Ferry sinks off Philippines coast" — Al Jazeera, December 27, 2009
- "Philippines sea tragedy leaves four dead and 23 missing" — BBC News Online, December 24, 2009
