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36 Dead in Philippines Ferry Accident

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A survivor of a passenger ferry that capsized in rough waters cries after arriving at the pier in Ormoc City, central Philippines, July 2, 2015.
A survivor of a passenger ferry that capsized in rough waters cries after arriving at the pier in Ormoc City, central Philippines, July 2, 2015.

Philippine officials said at least 36 people are dead and dozens more are missing after a ferry capsized in the central part of the country.

The Kim Nirvana was carrying 189 people Thursday when officials said it went down only a kilometer from Ormoc City on the island of Leyte.

The coast guard said at least 127 people have been rescued. Divers are searching the partially submerged vessel for at least 26 others who remain missing.

Ormoc City, Philippines
Ormoc City, Philippines

​Officials are investigating whether bad weather or human error led to the wreck of the wooden ship, which had just embarked on its regular route to the Camotes Islands.

Ferry accidents kill dozens, if not hundreds, of people each year in the Philippines, thanks in part to overcrowding and poor safety standards.

Passenger boats are an important mode of transportation in the archipelago nation, which is made up of more than 7,000 islands.

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