Fear of toxic chemicals in Philippine ferry halts retrieval of bodies

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-27  |     ONLINE EDITION

PHILIPPINE officials suspended retrieval today of hundreds of bodies believed trapped inside a sunken ferry due to fears divers may be exposed to toxic chemicals in the cargo hold.

Vice President Noli de Castro told reporters that 22,000 pounds (10,000 kilograms) of the pesticide endosulfan intended for pineapple plantations of Del Monte Philippines went down with the ferry when it capsized at the height of a typhoon last Saturday in the central Philippines.

"Because this pesticide is dangerous, we have temporarily aborted the retrieval operations at the ship," he said.

More than 100 divers, including eight US servicemen, have joined the search.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the pesticide does not easily dissolve in water and could be lethal to humans.

He warned against eating fish caught in the area until tests show they have not been contaminated.

It remains unclear how many of the 850-plus passengers and crew were trapped inside when the 23,824-ton Princess of the Stars suddenly listed and went belly up in a half-hour or less during the powerful typhoon, leaving just the tip of the bow jutting from the water.

Only 56 survivors have been found, while 124 bodies have washed ashore or recovered while floating at sea, some in life jackets, coast guard Commander Danilo Avila said.

The typhoon also left 505 people dead and 287 missing elsewhere in the country, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said.

Coast guard chief Vice Adm. Wilfredo Tamayo said a salvage company was being consulted on possibly uprighting the seven-story ship to speed up recovery work.

He said the coast guard will consult Philippine officials and the US Navy on the possible assistance of its salvage ship USNS Safeguard.

The ship is one of six deployed by the US Navy alongside the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to help in rescue and relief operations in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen.