Divers search capsized Philippines ferry for survivors
Updated
![The ferry, claimed by Typhoon Fengshen, is resting upside down off the central island of Sibuyan, with the tip of its bow above water. [Reuters]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/phils_ferry_rtr_230608.jpg "The ferry, claimed by Typhoon Fengshen, is resting upside down off the central island of Sibuyan, with the tip of its bow above water. [Reuters]")
The ferry, claimed by Typhoon Fengshen, is resting upside down off the central island of Sibuyan, with the tip of its bow above water. [Reuters]
Divers have gone underwater to search a capsized ship in the central Philippines near Sibuyan, about 150 kilometres south of Manila.
Disaster management officials say 76 survivors from the ship have now been found, while the divers have also found a large number of dead bodies.
More than 700 people are still missing, with 21 confirmed dead.
Our reporter in Manila, Shirley Escalante, says the most recent group of survivors from the capsized MV Princess of the Stars included 25 people found in the central province of Masbate.
Two of the survivors were said to be in critical condition and needed to be airlifted immediately to the capital Manila.
Fifteen bodies, believed to be those of passengers from the ship, were also washed ashore in Masbate.
Fourteen divers from the Philippine navy and coast guard searched the sunken part of the ship, with help and advise from United States navy experts.
They hope to find air pockets inside the ferry where survivors may be found.
A US surveillance aircraft is also scouring the area.
The MV Princess of the Stars, with more than 800 people on board, capsized in rough seas during the onslaught of typhoon Fengshen.
