MANILA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the fishing boat that sank off in the southern Philippines on Thursday climbed to two, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday, adding search continues for seven missing people.
The coast guard said rescuers retrieved the second body from the vessel, Genesis 2, that sank in the waters off Banganga town in Davao Oriental province around 1 a.m. local time on Thursday amid rough seas.
The coast guard initially said that 24 people were on the boat. On Friday, it clarified that 23 people were on the boat, and 14 of them were rescued. Seven people are unaccounted for.
Maritime accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, due to frequent storms, poorly maintained vessels, overcrowding and loose enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces. ■