Deadly Typhoon Fengshen was heading for Taiwan and south-east China today after leaving a trail of destruction in the Philippines where hopes faded of finding more survivors from a capsized passenger ship.

Divers managed to get inside an upside-down ferry today but found only bodies three days after the vessel capsized with more than 800 people aboard off the coast of the Philippines during a powerful typhoon, officials said.

Hundreds of passengers were feared trapped and may have died after their ferry capsized in the Philippines during Typhoon Fengshen, said two survivors who struggled ashore today.

There are fears that the death toll from Typhoon Fengshen would leap dramatically today after reports that more than 700 people are missing after a ferry capsized.

Typhoon Fengshen lashed the Philippines for a second day today, leaving at least 80 people dead as it submerged entire communities and capsized a passenger ferry carrying more than 740 passengers and crew.