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N0KFQ > TODAY 20.12.13 20:12l 43 Lines 1832 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 8960_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Dec 20
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<F1OYP<N4JOA<N4ZKF<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 131220/1748Z 8960@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.57
Dec 20, 1987:
Ferry collides with oil tanker near Manila
A passenger ferry collides with an oil tanker near Manila in the
Philippines on this day in 1987, leaving 4,000 people dead. The
ferry, the Dona Paz, was severely overcrowded, carrying more than
twice its stated capacity, and nearly everyone on board was
killed.
Sulpicio Lines owned the 2,215-ton Dona Paz, which was supposed
to carry 1,400 passengers among the many islands of the
Philippines. On December 20, it was going from Tacloban on Leyte
Island to Manila. There was much demand due to the Christmas
holidays and the company allowed approximately 4,000 people to
board. Passengers shared cots and mats were laid out in the
corridors as night fell during the 375-mile journey.
By 10 p.m., many of the ship's officers were drinking and
watching television while an apprentice officer piloted the ship
through the busy Tablas Strait, 110 miles south of Manila. Also
coming through the strait was the 629-ton tanker Victor, carrying
8,000 barrels of oil to Masbate Island. The two ships collided,
for reasons still unknown, and a huge explosion resulted. Both
ships sank quickly and although the Don Eusebio arrived on the
scene shortly to help, it could only circle the fiery area in
vain looking for survivors.
Only 24 survivors were found, half of whom were crew members from
the Victor. For the next week, burned or drowned bodies washed
ashore up and down Manila Island. President Corazon Aquino called
it a "tragedy of harrowing proportions." The precise number of
people on board the Dona Paz is not known, but the best estimate
puts the death toll near 4,000. This makes it twice as deadly as
the Titanic disaster and the worst maritime tragedy in history.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 2.8.0 c42
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