Philippine divers enter sunken ferry, hundreds feared dead

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

ABOARD THE BRP PAMPANGA, Philippines (AFP) — Philippine divers Tuesday entered the hull of a passenger ferry which capsized with hundreds on board, as officials held out slim hopes of finding survivors.

The navy and coast guard frogmen breached the ferry, which went down in a typhoon four days ago carrying 862 people, at first light but found little, according to Commodore Cecil Chen who is leading the recovery effort.

An AFP reporter onboard this coast guard vessel at the scene said the divers emerged with the corpse of a woman. Chen said he expects they will see some more bodies as the search continues.

"We believe there may be some people trapped there and that is the objective of the diving operations," said coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander...