Featured Image Credit: ROMEO GACAD/AFP via Getty Images/GMA Network
Topics: News, World News
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: News, World News
A video showcasing the aftermath of a major disaster has been sending chills up peoples’ spine.
The Princess of the Stars was a passenger ferry owned by Filipino shipping company Sulpicio Lines - however, the ship sunk off the coast of the Philippines in 2008.
The capsizing of the ship resulted in over 800 deaths and hit headlines around the world.
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The incident occurred on June 20, 2008 and saw the ship depart from the port of Manila bound to Cebu City.
Earlier in the day, there had been a typhoon, known as Typhoon Frank, however it was believed due to the size of the vessel, the ship would be able to deal with the added choppy waves - in addition to the fact the ship’s journey was not believed to take it into the path of the cyclone.
Unfortunately, during the voyage, the cyclone unexpectedly altered its course, positing a serious threat to the ferry.
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Around midday the following day, the ferry issued a distress signal and before it capsized not long after, causing authorities to spring into action.
The ferry capsized around 1pm in the afternoon.
There were a reported 814 dead and missing - including the ship's captain, Florencio Marimon - and 56 known survivors, making a grand total of 870 people on board, according to a final official figures report.
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Around 545 bodies were also retrieved from the wreckage by a salvage team.
Survivors who spoke to the media said they were told to put on life jackets around 11:30 and not long after the captain then gave orders to abandon the ship.
According to one survivor, the ship tilted 30 minutes later, causing elderly passengers and children to slip on the rain-soaked deck.
Another said that many passengers 'jumped overboard', but were separated by the 'big waves', adding: "The others were also able to board the life rafts, but it was useless because the strong winds flipped them over."
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Survivors also said that they saw people jumping into the water as the vessel was capsizing - with many not wearing life jackets.
Following the incident, local media continued to discuss the incident and would regularly visit the site of the capsizing when reporting on it - with one particular video resurfacing on social media.
The clip is from a Filipino news channel, 24 Oras, and shows the ship as it lays upside down in the water.
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An investigation launched following the incident found that Sulpicio Lines and its captain were liable for the incident.
The final report ultimately blamed human error and captain Marimon 'miscalculating' the risk of continuing the journey despite the ongoing typhoon.
It added that the shipping firm was also 'found negligent for its failure to exercise its duty in ensuring that they transport passengers and cargo safely to (their) destination'.