Vigil following Philippines ferry capsize

Updated June 23, 2008 14:42:53

The ferry capsize comes amid floods and landslides across the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. [AFP]

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has given coast guard officials a dressing down for allowing a passenger ship with almost 900 people on board to sail amid the onslaught of typhoon Fengshen.

Rescue operations are continuing.

Officials say 32 survivors have been found and ten people have been confirmed dead.

Our reporter in Manila, Shirley Escalante, says coast guard officials insist there was no negligence on their part, nor was there any violation of maritime regulations, following the capsizing of the ship MV Princess of the Stars.

They say the ship was stalled at sea because of engine trouble and was caught in rough seas brought by Typhoon Fengshen.

President Arroyo criticized coast guard officials in a teleconference call while on a state visit in the United States.

Relatives of the missing are demanding an investigation, saying ferry operators must have known the typhoon was coming.

The operation of other vessels of the passenger shipping line has been suspended pending investigation.

Typhoon Fengshen has maintained its strength over the country's north-western coast, with peak winds of 150 kilometers an hour.