Survivors of Philippines ferry Maharlika II tell of monster seas
Passengers on a stricken ferry who spent up to six hoursbattling huge waves thought that they would all die before rescuers finally arrived
Survivors from a ferry that sank after encountering steering problems in the central Philippines have recounted how they were tossed about by the churning sea in darkness for six hours while praying and clinging to an overturned life raft before a passing ship rescued them.
"A few more hours in those huge, huge waves and we could have all died," said ferry passenger Romeo Cabag, 32, a security guard who was travelling with his wife, Wilma. "I had cramps in both legs, was exhausted, and at one point I was beginning to pray that if I won't make it, that God allow at least my wife to live."
Rescuers, including the crew on two passing foreign vessels, plucked at least 110 survivors, including the Cabag couple, from the dangerous waters. They recovered at least three bodies from the Maharlika II, which sank at nightfall on Saturday, Red Cross worker Edward Barbero said.
Search and rescue efforts by air and sea continued yesterday because it was uncertain how many passengers and crew members were aboard the Maharlika, coastguard Captain Joseph Coyme said.
"There are discrepancies in the numbers and we cannot terminate the search and rescue until we're sure that everybody has been accounted for," Coyme said in the central city of Surigao, where the survivors were taken.