40 die as Philippines ferry capsizes

Fairplay 4 November 2008



AT LEAST 40 people were reported killed today and 14 missing when a Philippines passenger ferry capsized southeast of Manila, a Coast Guard report said.

Seventy-six people were rescued from the stricken 13-tonne wooden Don Dexter Kathleen, which capsized after leaving Masbate Island, about 5km off Dimasalang. Eight children were reportedly among the dead.

Masbate's police chief Reuben Sindac said the vessel, which was en route to Bulan in Sorsogon, had been sailing in calm conditions when freak monsoon winds hit it about 20 minutes after departing.

Sindac added that 119 people had been aboard.



Lloyds List

Don Dexter Cathlyn

London, Nov 4 -- A press report, dated today, states: Forty persons, including 11 children, are confirmed to have died when a ferry boat capsized off Masbate province early this afternoon, a police official said. In a phone interview, Senior Superintendent Reuben Sindac, Masbate provincial police director, said the ferry Don Dexter Cathlyn was five kilometres from shore in Dimasalang town when a squall capsized it past 1300 hrs. Sindac said that of the 11 children, four were infants. Of the 29 adult dead, 25 were women. Police have yet to identify the victims. Sindac said the ferry, which was bound for Bulan town in Sorsogon, was barely 20 minutes into its voyage when the incident occurred. Coast Guard and police rescue teams were able to recover the manifest of the ferry, which showed it had 119 passengers. There was no mention of how large a crew the ferry had. As of posting time, coast guard officials were able to rescue only 76 passengers. Rescue operations for the missing passengers are continuing.