MANILA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed its technical wreck divers to search inside the sunken ferry off Basilan province in the southern Philippines as the confirmed death toll rose to 45, officials said.
The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 sank on Jan. 26 while sailing from Zamboanga City to Jolo in Sulu province. On Tuesday, the PCG confirmed the location of the boat during a dive operation off Baluk-Baluk Island.
The PCG said its technical divers have safely entered the sunken vessel as part of ongoing underwater assessment and recovery operations aimed at locating bodies that may be trapped inside.
Two bodies recovered on Wednesday were retrieved by divers from the ferry's railings, the PCG added.
The PCG is still determining how many people remain missing, as search and recovery operations continue.
So far, 316 people aboard the vessel have survived, the PCG said. ■