This photo released by The Philippine Navy shows passengers dotting the port side of the ill-fated SuperFerry 9 as navy ships move closer to rescue at the high seas of Baturampon Point in the coast off Zamboanga in southern Philippines, Sept. 6, 2009. The Superferry 9, a passenger ferry ship carrying nearly 1,000 people, capsized in the high seas off the southern Philippines on Sunday, leaving at least three people dead and 88 others missing, the Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council said. (Xinhua/HO) Photo Gallery>>>

    MANILA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- A huge passenger ferry carrying nearly 1000 people capsized in southern Philippines on Sunday, leaving at least three people dead and 88 others missing, the disaster relief authority said.

    Gilbert Teodoro, chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, told a press briefing that the Superferry 9, with 847 passengers and 112 crew members on board, had sunk Sunday morning, hours after the captain ordered abandon of the ship and requested emergency rescue.

    Teodoro said 88 people are still missing and the rescue team has recovered three bodies of the drowned passengers.

    Teodoro, also defense chief, said navy ships and helicopters have also participated in the rescue operation with the coast guard team at the wreck site off the Zamboanga peninsular coast.

Survivors of Superferry 9 walk past security personnel after disembarking from a rescue vessel at the port of Zamboanga, southern Philippines, Sept. 6, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Superferry 9 sailed out of the southern city General Santos Saturday night and is expected to reach the central city of Iloilolate Sunday. It requested rescue around 3:30 a.m. local time (0730GMT).

    The cause of the accident is under investigation.

    The Philippine archipelago is prone to maritime tragedies. A ferry carrying 862 people on board sank in a typhoon in central Philippines last summer. More than 800 people were reported killedor missing in the accident.