Ferry Carrying 600 Sinks in Philippines; 1 Dead

CEBU, Philippines — A ferry carrying more than 600 passengers and crew members sank before dawn today in the central Philippines, killing at least one person.

A passing cargo ship, the John Dexter, rescued 200 people, but there was no immediate word on the fate of the others, according to radio operator Antonio Regoya of the Roble Shipping Lines in Cebu city, which was in contact with the cargo vessel. The body of a woman was recovered.

The ferry, the Asia South Korea, left Cebu city for Iloilo city on Panay island late Wednesday and sank early today near Bantayan island off the northern tip of Cebu island, said Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado.

Jonji Gonzales, a spokesman for Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, which owns the ferry, said it carried 606 passengers. Mercado said the ferry had 52 crew members.

The John Dexter crew members radioed that they saw the ferry listing on its left side with no lights minutes before it disappeared into the water. Crew members said they were hesitant to get closer to the ferry for fear of being smashed into it by large waves, Regoya said.

Reports from Bantayan indicated strong winds and fog in the area, 300 miles southeast of Manila.

Regoya told the coast guard that the ferry’s third mate--Warlito Sobreo, who was among the survivors--said a big wave swamped the ferry, knocking out the ship’s lights.

Sobreo said the crew distributed life vests and immediately launched life rafts, loading them first with children.

Regoya said the John Dexter suspended rescue efforts and sought shelter near a small isle off Panay, to the west of Cebu, because of big waves.