5 dead, 54 rescued from sunken ship in Palawan

Map showing the northern coast of Palawan in the Philippines where at least two people were reported killed and 22 others were missing after a ferry sank Wednesday. AFP

Five were confirmed dead and 54 were rescued from the passenger cargo vessel that capsized late Tuesday night en route to El Nido Island in Palawan, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday.

Executive Director Benito Ramos identified one of the fatalities as Junjun Atienza, a crew member from MV Josille II. Earlier Radyo Inquirer 990AM reported that one of the fatalities was a child.

The vessel had 34 passengers listed on the manifest and 12 crew members. Thirteen other passengers were not listed on the manifest.

Rescued victims were taken to Tent Island in El Nido, Ramos said.

A Philippine Navy ship and another from the Philippine Coast Guard had been deployed for search-and-rescue operations.

MV Josille II, which departed from the port of Liminangcong, sank off Pagawanin Island shortly before midnight Tuesday.