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Philippines ferry hit by typhoon
Fears are growing for more than 700 people on board a ferry which has capsized in the central Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen.
A rescue ship that managed to reach the vessel more than 24 hours after it lost radio contact reported no sign of life.
There are only four known survivors - one told local media that passengers had just minutes to abandon ship.
The Red Cross estimates some 155 people have died across the country in floods and landslides caused by the storm.
The vessel left Manila on Friday en route to Cebu, and according to its owners, Sulpicio Lines, contact was lost at about 1230 (0430 GMT) on Saturday.
The four known survivors, named as Jesus Gica, Oliver Amorin, Jessie Buot and Renato Lanorio, have been telling local media about their experiences.
Mr Lanoria said he had been on the top deck when a crew member ordered passengers to put on life jackets at about 1130 on Saturday.
He said that about 30 minutes later, the ship tilted and elderly people and children slipped on the rain-soaked deck.
Jesus Gica said he was worried that many people had been trapped below deck.
"There were many of us who jumped overboard, but we were separated because of the big waves," he said.
"The others were also able to board the life rafts, but it was useless because the strong winds flipped them over."
The four managed to swim to the shore of Sibuyan, in Romblon province, where they were found by villagers, according to government officials.
The 23,824-tonne ferry, the Princess of the Stars, has a passenger capacity of 1,992.
There is some confusion over the number of people on board. The ship's list states it was carrying 626 passengers and 121 crew. Local reports put the figure as high as 820.
As night falls hopes are fading of finding other survivors.
The Philippine President, Gloria Arroyo, has demanded an explanation as to why the ferry was allowed to leave port on Friday despite warnings that a typhoon was about to hit.
We were not really worried because it was not raining here at all - but the ship should not have been allowed to leave
"Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning? I want answers," she told civil defence and coast guard authorities during a briefing on the accident.
Worried relatives have been gathering at the offices of Sulpicio Lines.
One relative, Lina Salinas, said she had waved off her sister on the 22-hour voyage on Friday.
"We knew it was signal number 1 (the first stage of typhoon alerts) at the time, but we were not really worried because it was not raining here at all," Ms Salinas was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
"But the ship should not have been allowed to leave," she said.
A spokesman for the company said the priority was the search and rescue of passengers and that there would be no talk of responsibility at present.
The mayor of San Fernando, a coastal town in Sibuyan, said that four bodies had washed ashore on Sunday, including a man and a woman who had tied themselves together.
She said the upturned ferry could be seen from shore with its bow jutting out of the water.
Burst river
Typhoon Fengshen swept across the central Philippines on Saturday, leaving some 59 people dead and dozens more missing.
Fears are growing for more than 700 people on board a ferry which has capsized in the central Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen.
A rescue ship that managed to reach the vessel more than 24 hours after it lost radio contact reported no sign of life.
There are only four known survivors - one told local media that passengers had just minutes to abandon ship.
The Red Cross estimates some 155 people have died across the country in floods and landslides caused by the storm.
The vessel left Manila on Friday en route to Cebu, and according to its owners, Sulpicio Lines, contact was lost at about 1230 (0430 GMT) on Saturday.
The four known survivors, named as Jesus Gica, Oliver Amorin, Jessie Buot and Renato Lanorio, have been telling local media about their experiences.
Mr Lanoria said he had been on the top deck when a crew member ordered passengers to put on life jackets at about 1130 on Saturday.
He said that about 30 minutes later, the ship tilted and elderly people and children slipped on the rain-soaked deck.
Jesus Gica said he was worried that many people had been trapped below deck.
"There were many of us who jumped overboard, but we were separated because of the big waves," he said.
"The others were also able to board the life rafts, but it was useless because the strong winds flipped them over."
The four managed to swim to the shore of Sibuyan, in Romblon province, where they were found by villagers, according to government officials.
The 23,824-tonne ferry, the Princess of the Stars, has a passenger capacity of 1,992.
There is some confusion over the number of people on board. The ship's list states it was carrying 626 passengers and 121 crew. Local reports put the figure as high as 820.
As night falls hopes are fading of finding other survivors.
The Philippine President, Gloria Arroyo, has demanded an explanation as to why the ferry was allowed to leave port on Friday despite warnings that a typhoon was about to hit.
We were not really worried because it was not raining here at all - but the ship should not have been allowed to leave
"Why did you allow it to sail and why was there no ample warning? I want answers," she told civil defence and coast guard authorities during a briefing on the accident.
Worried relatives have been gathering at the offices of Sulpicio Lines.
One relative, Lina Salinas, said she had waved off her sister on the 22-hour voyage on Friday.
"We knew it was signal number 1 (the first stage of typhoon alerts) at the time, but we were not really worried because it was not raining here at all," Ms Salinas was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
"But the ship should not have been allowed to leave," she said.
A spokesman for the company said the priority was the search and rescue of passengers and that there would be no talk of responsibility at present.
The mayor of San Fernando, a coastal town in Sibuyan, said that four bodies had washed ashore on Sunday, including a man and a woman who had tied themselves together.
She said the upturned ferry could be seen from shore with its bow jutting out of the water.
Burst river
Typhoon Fengshen swept across the central Philippines on Saturday, leaving some 59 people dead and dozens more missing.
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I don't know how I missed SlowwHand's post. I deserved to be hit in the head with a hammer. 
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