MANILA, Philippines -- A crowded inter-island ferry capsized after being battered by a typhoon off the southern Philippine island of Mandano, leaving more than 200 people missing and feared drowned, the coast guard said today.
Philippine Coast Guard Cmdr.
Wilfredo Mejia said the MV Dona Cassandra was carrying about 300 passengers and 36 crew when it capsized Monday off the northeast coast of Mindanao, 550 miles south of Manila.
The official Philippine News Agency said 13 bodies were recovered.
About 80 survivors, including the ship's captain, were rescued from the island of Dinagat. Another 18 were rescued at sea Tuesday night and were being treated in a provincial hospital in Surigao del Norte, Mindanao, Mejia said.
One of those rescued, Armando Adlao, 27, said three lifeboats containing about 50 people each were sucked under the water when the Cassandra capsized and sank.
'I think all of them died because I didnt see anyone surface,' Adlao was quoted by PNA.
Passengers said the ship was listing heavily to starboard before it finally sank after being battered by huge waves spawned by Typhoon Orchid. They said it was raining hard when the ship went down and visibility was poor.
Typhoon Orchid lashed the central Philippines over the weekend with peak winds of 87 mph.
Mejia said the vessel capsized shortly before noon, about five hours after it left the port of Butuan, Mindanao, enroute to the central Philippine city of Cebu.
He said the vessel went down between the coasts of Mindanao and Bohol islands.
Mejia said the coast guard also was searching the area.
