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5 still missing in ferry disaster |
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July 16, 2000
MANILA (AP) - At least four passengers and one crew member remained missing Saturday after a ferry sank off the island province of Cebu, a Philippine coast guard official said. Ninety-two passengers and crew members were rescued by passing ships and the coast guard after the 38-meter (125-foot) ferry, the Don Martin 7, sank Friday, coast guard Commander Godofredo Mandal said. It was not known exactly how many people were aboard, he said. The missing people consisted of a 50-year-old man, a married couple, a 5-year-old boy and a crew member, Mandal said. Two were not listed on the ship's passenger manifest, he said. "If they sank with the ship, that is already hopeless," Mandal said. The ship departed Thursday night from Bantayan island, north of Cebu in the Visayan Sea. Two helicopters from the navy and air force, as well as a navy vessel, were searching the ocean and shorelines Saturday between Cebu and Bantayan. The ship issued a distress call at about 6 a.m., when passengers were instructed to abandon ship after large waves began flooding the engine room, Mandal said. Cebu is about 570 kilometers (355 miles) southeast of Manila. |