MANILA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday it is shifting operations to surface search efforts and community coordination to locate 14 individuals still missing following the completion of a final underwater re-sweep of the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off Basilan province in the southern Philippines.
The passenger ferry sank on Jan. 26 near Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province, while traveling from Zamboanga City to Jolo in Sulu, leaving 65 people dead.
Authorities said that at least 293 people have survived the maritime disaster as of Thursday.
In a statement, the PCG said its technical wreck divers carried out the final underwater operation, systematically inspecting all accessible compartments and structural sections of the submerged vessel.
"With the completion of the final re-sweep, the PCG confirms that no additional trapped victims were found inside the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 wreck," it said.
The PCG said search activities will continue on the surface. ■
