Philippines opens ferry disaster probe as toll hits 80

CEBU, Philippines, Aug 23, 2013 (AFP) - Philippine authorities Friday began a formal inquiry into a collision between a ferry and a cargo ship which killed at least 80 people and left 40 missing, as they considered calling off the search for survivors.

Navy boats and helicopters continued to scour the waters for those still missing from the St Thomas Aquinas ferry, which sank quickly after the collision off the central island of Cebu on Friday 16.

The captains of both vessels involved were summoned by coastguard and maritime authorities to shed light on the disaster, said Commodore Gilbert Rueras, an official of the inquiry board.

“We have a clearer picture of what happened,” Rueras told reporters without providing any more details.

Local media reported that during the inquiry both captains said they were in the correct sea lane and had tried to reach each other by radio but failed to make contact.

A total of 750 passengers and crew of the 870 on board the ferry were rescued. Many of those still missing are suspected to have become trapped inside the sunken wreck.

Authorities are discussing a proposal to wind up the search for survivors by Satur-

Navy boats and helicopters continued to scour the waters for those still missing from the St Thomas Aquinas ferry, which sank quickly after the collision off the central island of Cebu on Friday 16

day and focus on retrieving the dead, said provincial civil defence chief Neil Sanchez.

“We're still hopeful (of finding survivors) but the reality is chances are really very slim,” he said.

Divers who have been pulling out corpses from the sunken ferry this last week Friday spotted more bodies in the vessel but were unable to bring them up, said Sanchez.

“There are areas where they see bodies floating. Some are tangled in ropes and tarpaulins. But they need to clear the area of debris first because it is a safety hazard,” he said.

The cargo vessel, Sulpicio Express 7, was damaged but did not sink.