Nine dead, 33 missing after ferry sinks

A FERRY carrying nearly 1,000 passengers sank in the southern Philippines yesterday, leaving at least nine people dead and more than 30 missing.

Coast guard chief Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said the Superferry 9 began to list before dawn yesterday about nine miles off Zamboanga del Norte province, rousing terrified passengers from their sleep and sending many jumping into the water.

Rescuers transferred over 926 of 968 passengers and crewmen to two nearby commercial ships, a navy gunboat and a fishing boat, he said.