Twenty-five people are missing after an inter-island ferry sank off the Philippine coast shortly before midnight on Saturday, the local media said citing the national Coast Guard.
Local radio station dzMM cited a Coast Guard spokesman as saying that the Baleno 9 vessel, carrying 88 passengers and crew, was heading for Batangas City when it sank near San Agapito Verde Island around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday.
At least 63 passengers have been rescued by passing ships so far, the radio station said.
According to preliminary reports, the vessel was hit by big waves, tilted on one side and eventually sank.
The ferry was not overloaded at the time of the tragedy as it has a capacity for carrying up to 250 passengers, the Coast Guard said.
The authorities have pledged to dispatch additional ships and helicopters on Sunday morning to help the rescue effort.
MOSCOW, December 27 (RIA Novosti)
