Philippine: 111 rescued from ferry

Survivors from a ferry that sank after encountering steering problems in the central Philippines said Sunday that they floated and were tossed about by the churning sea in pitch-black darkness for six hours while praying and holding on to an overturned life raft before a passing ship rescued them from death. Rescuers, including the crew on two passing foreign vessels, plucked at least 111 survivors, including the Cabag couple, from the dangerously shifting waters. They recovered at least three bodies from the M/V Maharlika II that listed then sank at nightfall Saturday, Red Cross aid worker Edward Barbero said. The ferry encountered steering trouble off Southern Leyte province then was battered by huge waves and fierce wind whipped up by a typhoon north of the ferry's path, coast guard Capt. Joseph Coyme said. Search and rescue efforts by air and sea continued Sunday because it was uncertain how many passengers and crewmembers were on the Maharlika, he said, according to AP.