Philippine River Disaster Killed at Least 315

Rescuers gave up their search late Saturday for more bodies of people who were aboard a floating shrine that capsized in a fast-moving river and killed at least 315 people.

Officials were unsure how many people were aboard the shrine, which was made up of three barges with a three-tiered altar and a huge crucifix. The shrine was part of the nine-day “Crucifix at the River” festival that celebrates a local legend of people seeing a miraculous cross.

Serafin dela Cruz, the mayor of this town about 20 miles north of Manila, said 36 people were known to have survived the accident on the Bocaue River. He estimated that another 30 were unaccounted for.

Authorities took most of the bodies to a makeshift morgue at the town’s basketball court, where they were covered with ice as protection against the fierce tropical heat.

Volunteer searchers, using a huge improvised iron rake, had combed the river for bodies. Others threw fish nets.

The accident occurred as the shrine glided down the river. Many people swam to the vessel and climbed aboard. Marshals tossed some back in the river, but others managed to scramble aboard, overloading it.

Survivors said a priest was leading devotees in prayer when the overloaded shrine began to sink, then heeled over.

Some of the bodies were carried by strong currents to nearby villages. Searchers said they expected more bodies to be found.

Radio stations in Manila requested listeners to donate coffins because most of the dead came from poor families.