42 die as Philippine ferry overturns; captain held

Philippine investigators on Wednesday detained the captain of a crowded ferry that overturned in freak weather, drowning 42 passengers, on suspicion of operating the vessel illegally.

Some 100 people were rescued and eight were missing after the wooden-hulled Don Dexter Cathlyn was battered by winds and waves Tuesday shortly after leaving port in central Masbate island for nearby Sorsogon province, officials said.

Victims included 12 children and a mother who lost her husband a week ago and died with her only child, said Masbate police chief Reuben Sindac.

"There was this deep sense of sadness in the whole town last night," he said.

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