MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti) – Around 70 people are still missing after a ferry went down Saturday off Philippine shore amid bad weather, according to the government's civil defense office as cited by Agence France Press.
The Maharlika II ferry was carrying around 80 people, including at least 56 adult passengers, two children and 18 crew, as it sank off the central island of Leyte.
According to Inquirer, only 18 people have been found so far. Three boats have been sent to the scene of disaster to assist with the rescue mission.
This is the second maritime accident that has happened in the Philippine waters. On 16 August 2013, the MV Saint Thomas Aquinas collided with a cargo ship and went down, killing 61, with 59 reported missing and 750 rescued.
