CHRONOLOGY-Deadliest ferry disasters in the Philippines
23 Jun 2008 07:32:29 GMT Source: Reuters
(For related story see PHILIPPINES-WEATHER/ or [ID:nL22714887]) June 23 (Reuters) - Around 800 people are missing on Monday after a ferry sank in a typhoon off Sibuyan island in the central Philippines in what could be one of the island nation's worst maritime disasters in more than 20 years. Here is a list of some of the deadliest shipping disasters in the archipelago over the past two decades. * Dec 1987 - A total of 4,386 die in world's worst peacetime shipping disaster, as ferry Dona Paz, owned by Sulpicio Lines, and an oil tanker collide off Mindoro Island. * Oct 1988 - Dona Marilyn, sister ship of Dona Paz, sinks off Leyte province, killing around 300. * July 1993 - 279 pilgrims drown when an overloaded wooden temple, mounted on three boats, collapses during a religious festival as it is being towed along the Bocaue river, 20 km (12 miles) north of Manila. * Dec 1994 - Ferry Cebu City collides with Singapore oil tanker, killing more than 140. * Sept 1998 - Almost 200 die when ferry MV Princess of the Orient, sister ship of Dona Paz and Dona Marilyn, sinks in stormy seas near Cavite and Batangas. * April 2000 - At least 138 drown after the ML Annahada sinks off Jolo island in the southern Philippines. * Feb. 2004 - Superferry 14 catches fire near Manila Bay, killing 116 people. Abu Sayyaf claims responsibility, saying a suicide bomber sabotaged the boat to protest ill treatment of Muslim communities. * June 2008: MV Princess of Stars sinks 3 km (2 miles) from Sibuyan island in central Philippines in typhoon-lashed seas, leaving around 800 people missing. Source: Reuters (Writing by Gillian Murdoch, Beijing Editorial Reference Unit)
Estrella Valdez comforts her son Elwin as they await the latest information on their relatives onboard the capsized ferry, MV Princess of Stars, outside the Sulpicio Lines Passenger Terminal office in ...
