Inter-island ferry Maharlika II, with 84 listed passengers and crew and an unidentified number of unlisted passengers, left Liloan port in the central Philippines at noon on Saturday.

According to Reuters, thirteen vehicles were also loaded into the ferry, but the drivers were not listed.

According to AFP, it’s common practice in the Philippines for some passengers to board without being listed.

An order to abandon the ship was given at 9:20 PM after the ferry reported problems with steering due to big waves and strong winds and currents and started capsizing.

AFP said three people died in the accident and three are missing, while 110 were rescued by three vessels, including two foreign commercial ships.

According to Reuters, ferry accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands and with poor record for maritime safety. Not only many vessels are in bad conditions, but overcrowding is also common.

свернуть