Authorities expressed surprise that the accident occurred in relatively calm waters after initial reports of rough seas, and dismissed speculation that the ship was overloaded. “There was no storm or wind. We’re trying to find out [why it happened]”said the local official leading the rescue operation.
He said the boat’s supports had probably broken consequently of the accident, adding that it was possible the crew had made a navigational error.
Lifeboats picked up dozens of survivors who were clinging to the overturned hull of the ferry, which capsized about one kilometer from Ormoc port Ciriaco Tolibao, town’s disaster risk reduction and management office said.
The ship sailed around noon and was only half-hour into the journey when tragedy struck. It was flying on a standard path to the islands, that are about an hour from town of Ormoc.
He added that divers were combing the murky water for survivors from contained in the ship. “Some [survivors] clung to the hull of the capsized ship, and a few were rescued while swimming towards shore,” Tolibao said.
A Manila radio report said 21 people were missing, while a coast guard spokesman put the number at 19.
The Coast Guard confirmed it was involved in search and rescue operations but couldn’t provide further details of the operation. In the late afternoon, only a small a part of the boat’s underbelly was visible above the water, surrounded by rescue boats.
Back in Ormoc City, the distraught survivor wept openly as blue-clad crew members brought him ashore. Others, appearing shaken, told emergency services about their experiences.
A close-by row of soaked survivors crouched on the pier to await help while medical staff placed the injured on stretchers. Tolibao said a minimum of 53 survivors were taken to hospital and greater than two dozen others returned home.
Many of the passengers were traders bringing agricultural products and other goods to the Camotes group of islands, whose inhabitants make their living mainly from fishing, Tolibao added.
Ormoc and the remaining of Leyte were devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013.
The mainstay of sea travel across the vast archipelago is poorly maintained and loosely regulated ferries.
But this has led to frequent accidents which have killed lots of of individuals in recent times, including the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster in 1987, when the ferry Dona Paz collided with an oil tanker, killing greater than 4,300 people.
The cargo ship Sulpicio Express 7, which had 36 crew members on board, didn’t sink. It was owned by Philippine Span Asia Carrier, whose ships were involved in 4 other tragedies.
Travel was allowed as nearby provinces reported good weather.
Survivors said they were tossed about in rough seas at the hours of darkness for six hours and clung to a life raft before a passing ship saved them. Eight people died.
See: Dozens of deaths consequently of ferry capsizing within the Philippines
With additional reporting by the Associated Press
