Ferry capsizing leaves one dead in Leyte, Philippines

One person has died as a result of a vessel capsizing incident at the Port of Ormoc City in the Philippine province of Leyte on Saturday, September 25.

Lite Ferry 3, a Ro-Pax ferry owned by local operator Danilo Lines, listed heavily to starboard until it ended up on its side just as it was manoeuvring to berth at the port shortly after 00:00 local time on Saturday.

The ferry had sailed out of Mandaue City in Cebu province in the late evening of Friday, September 24. It had cargo on board but no embarked passengers.

All but one of the 16-strong crew were safely evacuated from the distressed vessel. Two of the survivors suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

A female crewmember, identified as the ship’s purser, was initially reported as missing. She was already deceased by the time she was found on board the ferry by Philippine Coast Guard search and rescue personnel three hours after the capsizing.

Rescuers said they discovered the female victim’s body underneath some of the vessel’s cargo of cement, iron, and flour.

The coast guard and the ferry’s owner have begun a joint investigation into the incident.