Ferry capsizes in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — A ferry carrying 189 people, including at least one Canadian, capsized Thursday minutes as it left a central Philippine port in choppy waters, leaving at least 36 dead and 26 others missing, coast guard officials said. They said the Canadian was among at least 127 people from the M/B Kim Nirvana who were rescued by nearby fishing boats and coast guard personnel or swam to safety off Ormoc city on Leyte Island. The name and hometown of the Canadian were not immediately available. Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said the wooden outrigger ferry was leaving Ormoc for the Camotes Islands, about 44 kilometres (27 miles) to the south, when it was lashed by strong waves. He said the captain and some of the crew were rescued and are in custody pending an investigation.