Philippine ferry carrying over 700 sinks in storm
Posted: 22 June 2008 0907 hrs

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MANILA: A ferry carrying over 700 passengers was sinking off the coast of the central Philippines after being battered by huge waves caused by a typhoon, reports and officials said Sunday.

"This is already a confirmed report," Nanette Tansingco, mayor of the coastal town of San Fernando in Romblon province, said of the sinking.

The MV Princess of the Star sent a distress signal late on Saturday from the area after becoming stranded when Typhoon Fengshen swept across the country.

"I sent a speed boat to check on the report, and they saw the boat submerged with a hole in the hull. They saw the name Princess of the Star and there were at least four bodies there," the mayor told DZMM local radio.

Coast Guard boats and the navy have been unable to reach the ferry since the distress signal, beaten back by the large waves still lashing the coast, officials said.

It was unclear how much of the ferry has sunk and whether any passengers and crew have managed to escape. Boats were trying to reach the area Sunday morning, officials added.

"The waves are very strong," Alvin Kayago said.

"The navy and Coast Guard tried on Saturday night but were forced back due to the high seas," he said.

The ferry capsized about three to four kilometres (1.8 to 2.4 miles) off San Fernando town, local radio reports said.

"I have not seen any survivors," resident Melanie Rotoni told DZMM radio.

"Life jackets and debris litter the store. I saw a dead woman in her 40s along the shore but she was the only body I saw. There is no one else." - AFP/ac