The death toll from typhoon "Fengshen" which rampaged through the Philippines this weekend has risen to at least 70, as the central province of Iloilo said at least 49 drowned in flood caused by a dam overflow there.
The fate of more than 800 passengers and crews on board a ferry ship which sank off the central province of Romblon early Sunday is still unknown as rescue ships are yet to arrive at the site of the sinking, according to local officials.
The ship, "Princess of Stars", left Manila Friday night and went aground Saturday evening off Sibuyan island of Romblon before sinking.
The Coast Guard said its rescue vessels were hampered by high waves at the sea Saturday night but resent a rescue ship Sunday morning. Local officials of the Romblon province said the ship was already sunk "upside down with a hole at the bottom".
The Iloilo province is due to declare a state of calamity and at least 60 people are still missing, said Iloilo Governor eil Tupas on a radio interview. He described the situation of his province as "like an ocean" due to flooding.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived in the United States Sunday for a 10-day visit. Her spokesman said she will keep watching the situation at home and join a meeting of disaster relief officials through telephones.
Typhoon "Fengshen" passed the east of Metro Manila early Sunday and headed toward central Luzon in the vicinity of Clark in Pampanga province, 70 kilometers north of Manila, said the state weather forecasters Sunday.
"Fengshen" is expected to reach Pangasinan province 200 kilometers north of Manila in the afternoon, said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, and was moving north-northwest at 15 kph, said the PAGASA.
Source:Xinhua
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