21 die as ferry sinks in Philippines storm

The coast guard said today that 21 bodies have been recovered after a small outrigger ferry sank in rough waters in the central Philippines, raising to 23 the number of people killed by a storm.

Coast guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Coyme said 18 other passengers of the motorboat Mae An have been rescued since yesterday, when it capsized off Masbate island after ignoring a general warning from authorities stopping all small vessels from sailing as tropical storm Chanchu approached the region.