Philippine Ferry Capsizes With 251 on Board, Four Dead

Volunteers pull a rubber boat with rescued passengers from the ill-fated M/V Mercraft 3 at Infanta township, Quezon province in northeastern Philippines Dec. 21, 2017.

MANILA—Four people were killed and seven were missing after a Philippine ferry with 251 people on board capsized during bad weather on Thursday near the capital, Manila, disaster officials and a coastguard spokesman said.

Accidents involving boats sailing between the many islands of the Philippines are common. Vessels are often overloaded but the coastguard said that was not the case on Thursday and the ferry had the capacity to carry 286 people.