23 Jan 2012

Two cargo ships sink in Philippines

5:47 am on 23 January 2012

A cargo ship loaded with cement has sunk in the Philippines and another vessel carrying iron ore earlier went down off the eastern coast.

The coast guard says all 32 crew from both ships were rescued.

The M/V Seaford 2 was destined for Antique with about 35,000 sacks of cement.

It sank early on Sunday off central Antique province when its hull hit a hard object and took in water.

The ship carrying iron ore, the M/V Sun Spirit, began to list on Saturday off Catanduanes province and sent a distress signal. It was bound for China.