4 dead, 166 rescued after ferry carrying 251 people capsizes off Quezon —PCG

At least four people died and more than 160 others were rescued after a Philippine ferry with 251 people on board capsized off Quezon province during bad weather on Thursday off an island near the capital, Manila, Philippine Coastguard spokesman Armand Balilo said.

Coastguard boats and army helicopters headed to the vicinity of Polillo island, trying to take advantage of daylight, Balilo told media.

In a separate message to GMA News Online, Balilo quoted the station commander of the PCG Northern Quezon as saying "166 persons were rescued while four bodies were retrieved."

Apat na sakay nang lumubog na MV Mercraft 3 sa Infanta Quezon, kumpirmadong patay; 199 naman ang bilang ng mga narescue na ayon kay Nurse Apple Sallana, Team Leader ng Infanta Quezon Emergency response Team.

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Accidents involving boats sailing between the many islands of the Philippines are common. Vessels are often overloaded but Balilo said that was not the case on Thursday and the ferry had the capacity to carry 280 people.

Rescue operations were hampered by heavy rain and huge waves caused by a tropical storm affecting the southern Philippines.

Balilo said a distress call had been issued before noon after the ferry capsized about 9 miles off the town of Real, in Quezon province.

"There is a big possibility the accident was caused by the bad weather," he said.

A tropical storm is expected to make landfall on the southern island of Mindanao late Thursday or early on Friday.

The weather bureau has warned of extensive flooding and landslides as the storm, packing center winds of 65 kph (40 mph), approaches the Philippines. — with Reuters/MDM, GMA News