The vessel which was said to have set sail from Ormoc City, Leyte Province was bound for Camotes Island, east of Cebu on Thursday when the disaster occurred.
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Some of the rescued crew were taken into custody pending an investigation.
Capsized… authorities are investigating why the 36-tonne ferry overturned.
MANILA, Philippines – A wooden ferry that was heavily loaded with passengers and cargo sank in stormy weather in the central Philippines on Thursday, killing at least 36 people, officials said.
Survivors said the bow suddenly rose from the water before the vessel flipped over on one side, turning it upside down and trapping passengers underneath.
At least three Americans and a Canadian were part of the 173 passengers who were on-board the vessel, according to Associated Press.
Drake says he helped save two people, including a woman who he revived with mouth- to- mouth resuscitation and a young boy he helped get out of the water. He also said that the Red Cross staff provided blankets and meals to the survivors.
The boat, which is 27 meters (89 feet) long, was barely 200 meters (more than 650 feet) from the shore when it capsized, Philippine coast guard Lt. Christopher Ganet said.
A radio report said 21 people were missing while GMA News put it at 70.
“No one was able to jump out because it overturned very swiftly”.
A few storms did flare up in southern Leyte after 1:30 p.m., local time, Nicholls said.
Coast Guard personnel were still locating the skipper of the boat to learn more about what happened.
He said rescue teams were searching for those missing. Thus far, 36 bodies have been recovered and rescuers are still looking for 26 missing people.
There were really 134 surviving family members after the MBCA Kimis thatNirvana, a powered outrigger, capsized seconds after adding the connection of Ormoc City.
They had probably traveled to Ormoc to buy or sell products, Gordon said.
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The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms each year, many of them deadly.
