TWENTY-NINE passengers of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 that sank off Basilan have so far been confirmed dead by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Eleven more bodies were recovered on Thursday and turned over to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, PCG spokesman Capt. Noemi Cayabyab said.
The search for missing passengers continues, Cayabyab said.
Based on the ship’s manifest, 10 more passengers are missing, but relatives said the actual number may be higher because there may be unlisted passengers aboard.
Of the 11 bodies recovered, seven have been identified by relatives. Four bodies will be transported to Zamboanga City, while the remaining three are scheduled to be sent to Sulu.
Technical divers from Manila and Southwestern Mindanao began an underwater search in waters where traces of oil that might have leaked from the Trisha Kerstin 3 were found.
A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) could not be deployed due to technical issues.
A Coast Guard vessel from Palawan, equipped with a hyperbaric chamber for diving operations and ROV deployment, is expected to arrive on Friday.
PCG officials said retrieval operations have not begun, since the vessel has not been located.
Authorities have not provided an updated count of missing passengers, although relatives of unaccounted individuals suggest the number could exceed 40.
