At least 35 people were reported dead after a ship that carried 173 passengers capsized in rough waters in central Philippines on Thursday afternoon local time. Dozens of rescue boats went to pick up surviving passengers who had hung on to the overturned vessel of the MV Nirvana, half a mile from the port of Ormoc, a city in Southern Leyte.

The city's disaster risk reduction and management Ciriaco Tolibao said that divers were searching for remaining survivors inside the ship in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

Survivors had said that the bow of the ferry rose from the waters all of a sudden before the ship, which is primarily made out of wood, had overturned on one side and started to sink.

The MV Nirvana was on its way to Camotes Island, which is located east of the island of Cebu, when the disaster took place.

At least three Americans and a Canadian were part of the 173 passengers who were on-board the vessel, according to Associated Press. 

Richard Gordon, the chairperson of the Philippine National Red Cross, said that the boat capsized due to strong winds. He also said that the Red Cross staff provided blankets and meals to the survivors.

National Red Cross Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang said that the boat was a commercial "pump boat" or known locally as the banka, which is operated by a small engine and is often used around the country to transport people and goods and for fishing, according to CNN.