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July 6, 2015

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Philippine ferry death toll rises to 61

The death toll from a ferry that capsized in the central Philippines has risen to 61, the coast guard said yesterday indicating that the vessel was overloaded.

Whether the ferry was carrying too many people will be part of a probe into last week鈥檚 disaster off Ormoc, which has seen the boat鈥檚 owner and crew charged with murder.

Coast guard figures showed that 61 people had died when the wooden Kim Nirvana capsized, with at least 145 people listed as survivors.

This would mean at least 206 people were onboard, exceeding the 194 passengers and crew the boat was authorised to carry. The heavy cargo the ferry was transporting may also have played a role, authorities have said.

鈥淭he number of bodies is more than we expected,鈥 said Captain Pedro Tinampay, the regional coast guard chief, refusing to speculate how many might still be missing.

The crew have been accused of reckless behavior, with a police investigation indicating the vessel had turned abruptly.


 

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