The third Philippine ferry accident in over a week leaves 1 person dead and nearly 100 rescued

One person died and nearly 100 had to be rescued after a ferry in the central Philippines struck floating debris at sea and took on water on Saturday, police said.

The accident involving the King Sto. Nino 7, which was carrying 98 people, was the third to hit the country in just over a week, police said.

All those on board were rescued, except for a female passenger who suffered a heart attack and died during the scramble for safety as water gushed into the wooden-hulled vessel in sunny weather off the island town of Corcuera in Romblon province, officials said.

Sea accidents are common in the Philippines because of frequent storms, poorly maintained boats, overcrowding and weak enforcement of safety regulations.

After some passengers on the King Sto. Nino 7 managed to call for help, coast guard personnel and nearby ferry boats approached to rescue the 93 passengers and five crew members, who were brought to a nearby village, Corcuera police chief Capt. Rosie Galus told The Associated Press by telephone.

The police and the coast guard initially came up with differing reports on the number of people on board the ferry but later met to compare their counts, police said. At least three of the passengers were injured, the coast guard said.

It was not clear what hit the ferry boat but the skipper suspected it may have been a floating piece of log that punched a hole in the wooden hull, said Galus, who talked with the skipper.

In a similar accident on Thursday, a wooden ferry boat struck floating debris at sea and took on water off Polillo island in the northeastern province of Quezon. All 60 passengers and seven crewmen were rescued by other ferry boats the and the coast guard, officials said.

Criminal charges have been filed against the skipper of the Aya Express, his two crewmen, the owner and a coast guard officer who allowed the overloaded ferry to sail.