Philippine authorities said yesterday they are sending divers to drill a
hole on the hull of the capsized ferry, M/V Princess of the Stars, to get out
passengers who might trapped inside the overturned ship.
Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said at a press
conference that he has ordered 14 coast guard divers to penetrate the vessel,
with assistance from Navy and ship company's diving crew.
Earlier Monday, Philippine navy divers who checked on the hull reported that
there are "no signs of life" around the capsized passenger ferry.
But Tamayo said there might still be air pockets inside the ship, where
survivors could have stayed, although more than 48 hours have passed since the
ferry first went off.
The drilling is expected to process today as the Navy announced that it would
suspend rescue at night due to the insufficient equipments for late night
operation.
The 23,800-ton ferry of the Sulpicio Lines, carrying 862 people on board, met
rough weather at sea after it sailed off Manila en route to central city of Cebu
on Saturday. The captain ordered passengers to abandon ship on Saturday noon and
when rescuers came to the scene on Sunday afternoon, it had overturned and had
only 1/15 of the hull above the water.
The authorities said earlier yesterday they were able to save and identify 34
survivors while they were checking the identities of another group of 25. The
rest, the authorities said, remain missing.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said yesterday helicopters were
deployed to check the nearby areas for any lifeboats or survivors.
"The waves and wind must have been strong. We just hope we can recover more
survivors," he said.
The Navy has sent two patrol gunboats, a patrol ship, two helicopters, and a
Navy Islander plane to the site, as the USNS Stockham of the United States Navy,
with search and rescue helicopters aboard, has been ordered to proceed to the
Philippines from Japan to augment the rescue team.