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MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Searchers have recovered five more bodies from a ferry that capsized just moments after leaving a port in the central Philippines yesterday. That raises the death toll to at least 50.
The bodies were recovered hours after a coast guard spokesman said that all 187 passengers and crew members had been accounted for. The additional fatalities raise questions about the number of people who were on board.
The coast guard spokesman says authorities will see if crew members allowed people who weren't on the manifest to get on board. He says the additional bodies were found after a floating crane pulled the vessel closer to shore.
Authorities say more than 140 people survived the accident. They say the captain and some crew members are in custody pending an investigation.
The boat had been lashed by strong winds before it capsized. Investigators say they'll be looking at the handling of the vessel, and whether it was stable.
%@AP Links
118-c-07-(Oliver Teves (TEH'-vehs), AP correspondent)-"leaves six missing"-AP correspondent Oliver Teves reports rescue teams continue their efforts to recover victims from a ferry that capsized in choppy waters in the central Philippines. ((watch for dating)) (3 Jul 2015)
<<CUT *118 (07/03/15)££ 00:07 "leaves six missing"
119-c-08-(Oliver Teves (TEH'-vehs), AP correspondent)-"lift it up"-AP correspondent Oliver Teves reports rescuers are using a barge with a crane to move the overturned boat to its side to make it easier for divers to find more bodies. (3 Jul 2015)
<<CUT *119 (07/03/15)££ 00:08 "lift it up"
120-c-18-(Oliver Teves (TEH'-vehs), AP correspondent)-"at that time"-AP correspondent Oliver Teves reports coast guard officials and survivors said it wasn't immediately clear what caused the 36-ton ferry to overturn. (3 Jul 2015)
<<CUT *120 (07/03/15)££ 00:18 "at that time"
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