ABOUT 70 people, many of them children, were killed when huge waves smashed a ferry in the Philippines, ripping apart its top deck and sending it crashing down.
At least 141 people survived after waves "as big as houses" swamped the overcrowded boat, causing engine failure, on Sunday night off Cadiz in the central, Philippines, the coast guard said.
As the tide ebbed and rescuers rushed to pick up the bodies of children cast ashore, the 75 ton Gretchen-1 looked like it had been hit by a bomb. Two decks were missing, its sides were blown away and its mast was cut in half. The vessel foundered just 500 metres from the port.
In Manila, President Fidel Ramos ordered an inquiry into who ordered the boat to sail despite carrying over 200 passengers, when only 100 are authorised.
"The passengers panicked ...[they] started clambering up to the top deck, causing it to collapse," the area coast guard commander, Mr Edmund Tan, told reporters. "After the deck collapsed, the boat just started to disintegrate."
The coast guard held the captain and two officers for questioning. All 12 crew members survived. Captain Norberto Lipangge was detained while the owner, a businessman, Mr Louie Quiamco, was ordered to explain within 72 hours why "punitive action" should not be taken. Two other vessels owned by the Quiamco family were ordered not to leave port while inspections were carried out.
Two foreigners who survived, previously identified as Germans, were actually a German and a Swiss, both tourists, the mayor's office said.
Asked if he thought any more survivors could be found, the coast guard chief, Mr Arturo Capada, said "I think none." He said "The captain committed a big error," adding that if the boat had left on time and not four hours late, it would have been able to dock at high tide and would not have been exposed when night fell.