Ferry survivor rescued

A Philippine air force helicopter has rescued a woman who drifted for about 30 hours in choppy, shark-infested seas far from where her ferry sank a day before, leaving nine people dead and nearly 1,000 survivors.

Rear Admiral Alex Pama said a massive air, land and sea search will continue for the lone missing passenger of the Superferry 9, which sank off southern Zamboanga del Norte province yesterday after listing for about six hours.

The coast guard said it deployed a special containment ship for any possible oil spill.

Rear Admiral Pama said housewife Lita Casumlum, who is 39, was found bobbing with a life jacket about eight miles from where the 7,269-ton vessel sank.

He considers her rescue “a miracle.”