MANILA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The confirmed death toll from a ferry that sank off Basilan province in the southern Philippines has risen to 51 after Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) divers retrieved more bodies from the wreck, authorities said Tuesday.
In a report, the PCG said its technical divers began search and recovery operations on Tuesday morning, concentrating on the vessel's first-deck economy accommodation area.
The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank on Jan. 26 while traveling from Zamboanga City to Jolo in Sulu province. The location of the sunken vessel is approximately 1.8 nautical miles off Baluk-Baluk Island.
At least 316 passengers and crew survived the incident, according to the PCG.
The tragedy is among the deadliest maritime incidents in the region in recent years. ■