On December 21, 1987, the Doña Paz, a passenger ferry, was en route from Tacloban, on the island of Leyte, to Manila. The ferry was in the Tablas Strait when it collided with the small oil tanker, Vector, which was carrying 8,800 barrels of petroleum products. The contents ignited and caused a fire that rapidly spread onto the Doña Paz. Of the 13 crew members aboard the Vector, 2 survived. The death toll of the passengers on the Doña Paz was officially at 1,565, although some reports claim that the ferry was overcrowded and that the true death toll is over 4,000. The 21 survivors from the ferry had to swim underwater to escape the flames, as no lifeboats had been released. December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Later inquiry revealed that the crew of the Vector was underqualified and that the boat's license was expired.
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