Ferry dead now 70, brings total toll from ‘Frank’ to 361
48 survivors rescued--Coast Guard
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:23:00 06/24/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Divers recovered three bodies from the wreckage of the MV Princess of the Stars off Romblon province, bringing the death toll from the capsized ferry to 70, while 48 survivors have been rescued, the Philippine Coast Guard reported Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, the number of persons confirmed killed during typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen), mostly by floods, reached 291. With the 70 ferry fatalities, this brought the total to 361. Another 166 persons were injured, Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said.
Frogmen from the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard entered the MV Princess of the Stare for the first time Tuesday morning and fished out the three bodies.
The divers saw what looked like other human bodies in the dark waters.
The search was suspended for the night, but will resume Wednesday morning, said Lieutenant Commander Rogelio Villanueva, who represented the Coast Guard during the 6 p.m. briefing of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
"There were indications [of more bodies inside the ferry] but there was poor illumination," Villanueva said.
Asked if there was an estimate of how many bodies were left inside the wreckage, Villanueva said: "We do not want to speculate at this point in time."
"Hopefully, tomorrow [Wednesday] we can retrieve more bodies," he said.
The inter-island ferry, owned by Sulpicio Lines, capsized in rough waters last Saturday at the height of Frank’s onslaught.
Villanueva said 67 fatalities were recovered from shore, 55 from Claveria town in Quezon province; eight from San Fernando town, Romblon province; and four from Mulanay town in Quezon.
Of the 48 survivors, 39 were found in Mulanay, five in Claveria, and four in San Fernando, Villanueva said, adding the number of survivors had been trimmed down from the 57 total they gave Monday evening, after some were found to have been involved in other sea mishaps.
Villanueva said divers were careful not to "indiscriminately" cut through the ship, since it might cause the wreck to sink, or endanger the rescuers.
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