85 still missing in ferry incident

85 people remain unaccounted for two days after the ferry they were on sank in the Mactan Channel in southern Philippines.

Coast Guard operations found the bodies of 34 people and rescued 751 from the water after the passenger ship MV St. Thomas Aquinas collided with cargo vessel the Sulpicio. The ferry was coming from Butuan City and the cargo ship was leaving for Davao in Mindanao.

Before sinking the passenger ferry managed to issue a mayday call which was picked by Coast Guard officials. The cargo vessel remained on site to assist in the rescue operations.

In 1987, the Philippine islands witnessed another maritime tragedy, which claimed the lives of between 1700 and 4000 people. The ferry Dona Paz collided with the tanker MT Victor on 20, December. No precise number of casualties was ever published, and allegations abound that the ferry was seriously overcrowded.