Philippines ferry sinking leaves 13 dead as 690 rescued

Thirteen people died and 690 were rescued today after a ferry sank following a collision with a cargo vessel in the central Philippines, a coastguard commander said.

"We don't know if there are still people missing," Rear Admiral Luis Tuason told local radio, citing a discrepancy between the ferry's manifest and the actual number of people known to have died or been saved.

The captain of the ferry, MV Thomas Aquinas, ordered the ship abandoned after it began listing and then sank after hitting the other vessel, coast guard officer Joy Villegas said.

He said two coast guard vessels and other nearby ships were involved in the rescue operation, not far from the port of Cebu.

There was no immediate word on casualties, but passenger Jerwin Agudong told radio station DZBB that some people were trapped and he saw bodies in the water.

“It seems some were not able to get out. I pity the children. We saw dead bodies on the side, and some being rescued,” he said.

He said the ferry was entering the pier when the cargo vessel, which was on the way out, suddenly collided with the ship. He said he and other passengers jumped in front of the cargo vessel.

“One of the persons who jumped with us hit his head on metal. He is shaking and he is bloodied,” Agudong said.

He said the crew of the ferry distributed life jackets while the ship was slowly sinking.

He said the ferry came from Nasipit in Agusan del Sur province in the southern Philippines on a day-long journey.

Reuters/AP