CEBU: Philippine authorities yesterday began a formal inquiry into the collision between a ferry and a cargo ship which killed at least 80 people and left 40 missing, as they considered calling off the search for survivors.
Navy boats and helicopters continued to scour the waters for those missing from the St Thomas Aquinas ferry, which sank after the collision off the central island of Cebu on August 16.
Both captains were summoned by coastguard and maritime authorities to shed light on the disaster, said Commodore Gilbert Rueras, an official of the inquiry board. “We have a clearer picture of what happened,” Rueras said without providing details.
Local media reported that the captains said they were in the correct sea lane and had tried to reach each other by radio but failed to make contact.
A total of 870 crew and passengers on board the ferry were rescued. Many still missing are suspected to have become trapped inside the sunken wreck.
Authorities are discussing a proposal to wind up the search for survivors and focus on retrieving the dead, said provincial civil defence chief Neil Sanchez.
AFP
