MANILA, Philippines - A ferry packed with commuters that was buffeted by sudden monsoon winds and huge waves overturned Tuesday, killing at least 40 people including 11 children, officials said.
Regional army commander Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta said 76 people were rescued from the Don Dexter Cathlyn, which capsized shortly after leaving port in central Masbate island.
He said 40 bodies were recovered. The ship's manifest listed 119 passengers and a crew of six on board, though ferries frequently carry more people than officially listed.
Wailing relatives and friends searched for loved ones among the covered bodies that were lined up in a plaza.
Masbate provincial police chief Reuben Sindac told Manila radio station DZBB the ferry began sailing in relatively clear weather.
"There was some kind of whirlwind," Sindac said. "There was no rain, no typhoon; the waters were calm when it happened."
Police officer Roy Almine, who helped in the rescue, said huge waves and strong monsoon winds suddenly hit the boat, causing it to overturn and tossing passengers into the sea.
Ferry accidents are frequent in the typhoon-prone Philippine archipelago, where passenger boats are often poor maintained and enforcement of safety regulations is lax.
The Philippines was the scene of the world's worst peacetime maritime disaster when the ferry Dona Paz sank in 1987, killing more than 4,341 people.
In June, the 23,800-ton Princess of the Stars went belly up during a typhoon close to Romblon province, near Masbate, killing more than 800 people.
