A ferry with nearly 700 passengers has collided with a cargo vessel in the central Philippines and a rescue operation has been launched, according to AP. The coast guard says the ferry MV Thomas Aquinas listed and began sinking after hitting the cargo vessel and the captain ordered the ship abandoned. Coast guard officer Joy Villegas says the collision occurred Friday evening near the central city of Cebu and was not far from shore. He says two coast guard vessels were dispatched and other nearby vessels are helping to rescue the passengers. -- SPA 18:25 LOCAL TIME 15:25 GMT تغريد
