141 Drown as Shrine Sinks in Philippines

A floating shrine packed with hundreds of worshipers sank Friday during rehearsals for a religious procession. Police said at least 141 people died.

Officials were uncertain how many people were aboard the shrine, made of three barges with an altar and crucifix mounted on them.

But Mayor Serafin dela Cruz estimated that about 300 people were on board. He said about 90 people were listed as missing.

The tragedy occurred Friday evening as townspeople were taking part in a nine-day religious festival in honor of the province’s patron saint. The festival ends Sunday in this town about 20 miles north of Manila.

Survivors said a priest was leading the worshipers in prayer when the overloaded shrine began to sink. As the priest shouted for people not to panic, the shrine tilted and capsized.

Henry Santiago, who witnessed the incident from the shore, said the shrine was already tilting when it left the pier.

He said the accident occurred after someone aboard the ship lit some fireworks. As those aboard moved away from the blasts, the shrine capsized, he said.

Ricardo Santos, 20, a house painter, survived, but his pregnant wife and his seven nieces and nephews died.

“Suddenly I looked down at my nieces,” he said. “There was water up to their noses. They tried to climb up but the more they did the more they sank. I could hear voices everywhere screaming for help.”

Anxious relatives gathered through the night as navy frogmen searched the muddy Bocaue River for victims.