At least 28 people have been killed and 36 others are missing after an inter-island ferry capsized in northeastern Philippines. The vessel, "Maejan," carrying at least 96 passengers was approaching its destination in the town of Aparri in the Cagayan province after a seven-hour journey from Calayan islands when it overturned near the mouth of the Cagayan River on Dec 14 evening. Coast guard rescue boats and a search plane have been dispatched to the area to search for the missing. However civil defense officials say heavy seas are hampering search efforts. Some forty-six survivors have been rescued from the area. The state weather bureau over the weekend had warned of an approaching storm from the Pacific with winds of up to 60 miles (95 kilometers) per hour. As of Dec 15, 11:30 a.m., joint government and private search and rescue operatives were still searching for nine passengers of the boat. Most of the 46 survivors swam to shore in Aparri, where police and villagers found them shivering close to midnight.
Topic: 28 dead and 36 missing in another ferry disaster in the Philippines (Read 981 times)