MISSING FERRY PASSENGERS FEARED DEAD

OFFICIALS had abandoned hope of finding alive seven people missing from a ferry which sank last week with dozens on board, after three days of searching in strong currents.

Rescuers last week recovered two bodies from the sea and rescued 61 others after the MV Lady of Mount Carmel went down on Friday off the coast of central Masbate island, more than 300 kilometers southeast of Manila.