Toll in Philippine Ferry Disaster Now Tabulated at 4,000
MANILA — About 4,000 people are believed to have died in a pre-Christmas Philippine ferry disaster that became the world’s worst peacetime sea tragedy, a group collating passenger names said Friday.
The group, made up of relatives of the victims, told reporters it expects a maximum error of 1% in the 3,976 names so far checked and is processing about 100 more from details provided by families.
Government officials who helped compile the list said it is not yet regarded as conclusive but said it had been passed to a Senate committee assessing compensation. The figure is the biggest firm estimate yet made and nearly doubles previous official estimates.
Only 26 people survived the Dec. 20 tragedy when the ferry Dona Paz and the tanker Vector collided in the darkness in the central Philippines. Both vessels burst into flames and sank.
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