At least two dead bodies were recovered Sunday from a passenger ferry that sunk in rough seas with more than 800 people on board in the central Philippines, police said, the dpa reported.
The two fatalities, both women, were found on the shores of San Fernando town on Sibuyan Island, according to town police chief Inspector Reynaldo Reyes.
"The older woman was tied to a foam mattress," he said. "We didn't see any other bodies and there were few items found on the shores. We fear that more bodies are trapped inside the ferry."
The ill-fated MV Princess of the Star suffered engine trouble and was battered by huge waves and strong winds spawned by Typhoon Fenshen while in the seas off Sibuyan Island on Saturday.
The coast guard dispatched a rescue vessel to the area on Saturday, but it had to turn back because of bad weather.
Reyes said the police, local government and volunteers launched search and rescue operations to determine if there were any survivors in the accident.