Divers join grim search for ferry survivors

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-26  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

BODIES in life jackets washed up on nearby islands and drifted at sea yesterday as more than 100 divers, including United States servicemen, joined the grim work of searching the inside of a Philippine ferry that capsized during a powerful typhoon.

While the divers have only found dead bodies so far, officials were unwilling to give up hope of finding more survivors among the more than 800 people missing since the seven-story ferry listed and went down on Saturday.

"I am still hoping for a miracle. I am hoping for a miraculous air pocket somewhere in the ship," said Transportation Undersecretary Maria Elena Bautista, head of a government task force.

Bautista said 95 Filipino and eight American divers were taking part in the search.

Four US Navy rubber boats carrying the US divers went to the site yesterday morning. Five ships, a P3 surveillance plane, two Navy HH-60 helicopters and a pilotless surveillance plane also were deployed by the US military to help search for bodies and possible survivors.

The disaster could raise Typhoon Fengshen's death toll to more than 1,300, with 329 people confirmed dead from flooding and landslides and more than 200 missing. Only four dozen survivors have been found so far.

Three more bodies wearing life vests believed to be from the ship washed up yesterday on Burias island, 90 kilometers away, while ships were dispatched to pick up groups of up to 55 bodies spotted by surveillance aircraft. Coast guard spokesman Lt Cmdr Arman Balilo said they were getting "a lot of reports" of sightings, but were not including them in the official death toll "until we have control of the bodies."

Just the tip of the bow of the 23,824-ton Princess of the Stars ferry was jutting from the water. The storm's aftermath kept rescue workers away until calm, sunny conditions on Tuesday allowed divers to slither inside for the first time.