over in sudden wind gusts and powerful waves on Saturday off Guimaras and Iloilo provinces. Sixty-two
other passengers and crew were rescued.
A third ferry, which was not carrying any passengers, also capsized in the Iloilo Strait but its five crew
survived, Mr Balilo said.
Survivors recounted how the sky suddenly turned dark midway through their trip, followed by strong winds
and rain that battered their ferries.
Authorities wondered why a third ferry was allowed to sail about three hours after two other ferries
overturned almost at the same time at noon in bad weather. Forecasters have warned of heavy monsoon
rains, thunderstorms and rain-triggered landslides amid a tropical depression more than 1,000km (620
miles) off the country’s eastern coast.
Classes and work were suspended in metropolitan Manila on Friday and Saturday amid heavy rains and
flooding, which caused intense traffic jams in low-lying areas of the capital.
About 20 typhoons and storms batter the Philippines each year, making the archipelago that lies on the
Pacific typhoon and earthquake belt one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.