By Bernama,
Manila : At least 32 passengers on the sunken Philippine ferry “MV Princess of the Stars” have been rescued, local police said Monday.
Superintendent Eduardo Somera of Quezon Provincial Police Office said so far, five people are confirmed death following another unidentified dead body was washed ashore.
It is believed that survivors were on rubber boats, and are bing sent to nearby hospitals to receive treatment, Somera told China’s Xinhua news agency on Monday.
All the 32 survivors are adults, said Quezon disater relief officials.
Meanwhile Provincial civil defense Deputy Coordinator Henry Buzar said the survivors who are receiving medical treatment, would be able to meet their relatives.
The 23,000-tonne ship of the Sulpicio Lines, carrying more than 700 people on board, met rough weather at sea on Saturday noon and sank on Sunday. Four survivors were rescued on Sunday.
Local media reported that at least four more survivors were picked up by local fishermen in Quezon but the police can not confirm on it.
“We have difficulties reaching our contacts in the localities,” Somera said, adding that electricity is still down and mobile phone signals are weak.
Buzar also said it is possible that the provincial authority is not aware of all the survivors rescued in the region.
“I have ordered all local disaster relief officials to thoroughly check each coastal village to count the number of survivors,” Buzar said.