Toxic pesticide on Philippine ferry halts search

By Romeo Ranoco

SIBUYAN ISLAND, Philippines (Reuters) - The Philippines halted a search for hundreds of bodies feared trapped inside a capsized passenger ferry on Friday after authorities learnt that 10 tonnes of pesticide was on board.

The Princess of the Stars ran aground during a typhoon and then overturned in about 15 minutes off Sibuyan island in the central Philippines on Saturday. The vessel had 865 passengers and crew.

Angry officials said Sulpicio Lines, the vessel's owner, would be held accountable for not alerting them to the 400 boxes of endosulfan.

Exposure to the deadly chemical, which is highly restricted, can cause nausea, convulsions and death. The United States' Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as highly toxic.

Philippines Vice President Noli de Castro said had officials been told earlier about the cargo, divers would not have been sent to the vessel to search for bodies.

"This is in pure form and in powder form, so it is very dangerous, if it gets wet even a little," de Castro said.

"This should not even be aboard a passenger ship."

There is no sign the pesticide has leaked but the government banned fishing in the waters off Sibuyan island and sealed off the area around the vessel while they awaited test results.