Passenger ferry collides with cargo ship in C. Philippines

The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council ( NDRRMC) said that the passenger vessel, which came from the southern city of Butuan and was bound for Cebu City, sank immediately after colliding with a cargo vessel.

The death toll of the incident has been uprising continually.

On the other hand, all the 38 crew of the cargo vessel bound for Davao City were "all safe and accounted for," the state agency said.

Some of the rescued passengers who were hurt were being treated in nearby hospitals, while dead victims were brought to a Cebu City port for proper identification.

Formal maritime inquiry was yet to be called to determine the cause of the accident.