85 remain missing from Philippine ship collision
Updated: 2013-08-18 16:23
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
TALISAY, Philippines - The search operation resumed Sunday morning as 85 were still missing following ship collision in central Philippine province of Cebu, a local official said.
The death toll of the mishap rose to 34 after two bodies were retrieved Sunday morning. A total of 751 people on board the ill- fated ferry M/V St Thomas Aquinas have been rescued so far, Hilario Davide III, governor of Cebu province, told a news briefing in Talisay city.
Rescue operation, which halted Saturday evening due to high waves, resumed at 8 am Sunday. "Hopefully more missing can be found alive," Davide said.
The M/V Sulpicio Express 7 cargo vessel bound for Davao city in southern Philippines collided with the passenger vessel bound for Cebu from Butuan off the coast of Talisay in Cebu Friday night. Both ships have 870 passengers and crew.
Three helicopters dispatched by the coast guard and navy were hovering over the coastline to search for the survivors. Divers sent from Manila have arrived to assist the rescue operations.
Commodore William Melad, Philippine Coast Guard commander in Central Visayas, said technical divers had gone into the sunken passenger ship to search for the missing inside. But oil leak at the scene of the incident hampered the searching effort, and even posed threat to the divers.
Emmanuel Crucio, a mentor of the marine institute attached to Cebu University, said that the pace of rescue operation was slow due to poor equipment though the divers were professional.
- Williams ends Li reign to reach first Cincinnati final
- Golf has green future in China
- Taking the corner
- China's Ambassador Yi appointed as deputy chief of WTO
- Significant events launched to commemorate Mandela in South Africa
- Premier Li visits NW China village after quake
- Relief supplies sent to flood-hit areas in NE China
- Florida to use drones to shoo away mosquitoes
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
In High (School) Demand |
Construction of parking lots still in slow lane |
Questioning China's achievements |
Summer Guide Special |
Attractive Cities for Foreigners |
Star talk series |
Today's Top News
85 remain missing from Philippine ship collision
New Zealand FM to visit China, Mongolia
Death toll rises to 37 in NE China's floods
Egyptian gov't vows to beat war of terror
China to further develop elderly care service sector
Premier Li: Together, we will rebuild
Bo Xilai to stand open trial
Home prices continue to rise in July
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |