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Scores killed as Philippines boat capsizes
A motorboat capsized in high seas in northern Philippines killing at least 23, with 26 others missing, officials said on Monday.
- Agencies
- Published: 08:55 December 15, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- In this photo released by the Philippine Air Force Public Information Office in Manila, a sunken inter-island ferry lies close to the shore yesterday in Ballesteros township, Cagayan province in northern Philippines.
Manila: A motorboat capsized in high seas in northern Philippines killing at least 23, with 26 others missing, officials said on Monday.
Rescue teams including coast guard, navy and air force troops, were looking for any survivors, Melchito Castro, the regional director of the government's disaster coordinating body told reporters
Nearly 50 people survived the accident, coast guard commander Wilfredo Tamayo said. Some were rescued by fishermen from northern Cagayan province, he added.
The boat failed to arrive at Aparri town in the Cagayan province after leaving Calayan island on Sunday morning.
"It was because of strong currents between Calayan and Aparri,", Castro said.
Gale warnings were dispatched to coastal towns prior to the ferry sinking, Castro said, as tropical storm Dolphin entered Philippine territory.
The weather bureau did not expect the storm to hit land.
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