Rescue teams are searching for nearly 800 people who went missing in the Philippines archipelago after a ferry boat sank two days ago.

Only 33 people are known so far to have survived the ferry disaster. Coast guard boats are searching the waters near the site of the accident and teams of divers will drill into the side of the vessel hoping they will find survivors in air pockets.

Authorities found 9 corpses ashore on the central island of Masbate on Monday. They are believed to be passengers from the MV Princess of Stars.

According to some photos taken at the site, only the tip of the ship's bow remained above the water level. Divers reached the vessel which is sitting on a sandbank several miles off-shore and banged on the hull in search for survivors. Unfortunately, they got no response.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo condemned authorities for letting the vessel set off on the 22-hour voyage from Manila to Cebu on Friday although they were aware that typhoon warnings had been issued.

The devastating typhoon Fengshen pounded the archipelago of the Philippines with gusts reaching speeds of 120 mph (195 kph). The powerful winds wrecked houses and roads forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. The province of Iloilo was hit the hardest. Authorities estimated the damage made there by the typhoon is worth nearly 1.7 billion pesos ($38 million).

The death toll of the devastating typhoon which struck the Philippines reached 160 people, local authorities estimated.