Almost 1,000 people have been rescued after a ferry sank off the southern Philippines overnight. There are still a few people missing and nine people have been killed in the disaster.

According to reports, The Superferry 9 tilted to the right before beginning to sink. The cause of the disaster has not yet been confirmed, but officials are planning to investigate this further.

The ferry, which was built in Japan in 1986 was carrying 200,000 litres of industrial fuel oil, 80,000 litres of automotive diesel oil, and 10,000 litres of lube oil when it departed Manila for Iloilo and General Santos City.

It was on its return voyage from General Santos to Iloilo and Manila.

Ferries are an important mode of transport in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands. But accidents are common, because of overcrowding, poor maintenance or tropical storms.

Last year, the Princess of the Stars ferry overturned during a typhoon which resulted in 800 deaths.