(UPDATE) Ship capsizes in Leyte, 29 missing

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A roll-on and roll-off vessel with 84 people on board capsized off the central Philippine province of Leyte last night, 29 people are still missing, the state disaster relief agency said today.

Among the 84 on board the vessel, 55 people have been rescued, search and rescue operations are ongoing and being conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Emergency Response Services of Surigao City, the National Disaster Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

The ship coming from Liloan in Southern Leyte and enroute to Lipata of Surigao City encountered "steering casualty."

It can't make a left or right turn, and may have crashed, said Jim Alagao, spokesman of the armed forces Central Command.

Passengers and crew of the ship abandoned the ship at 9:20 p.m. Responding ship Maharlika-4 arrived in Lipata Port at 11 p.m., carrying 32 survivors. Meanwhile, foreign vessel MV Lara Venture rescued 18 persons, and MT Martin rescued five other persons.