Death toll from ferry capsizing off Ormoc now at 59

The death toll from the capsizing of the motor banca MBCA Kim Nirvana-B off Ormoc City in Leyte last Thursday reached at least 59 as of Saturday noon.

At least 140 have also been rescued, according to figures from the Coast Guard in Eastern Visayas, radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported.

But the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters has instructed its unit in Eastern Visayas to verify these figures as these may indicate the vessel may have had more passengers than the manifest indicated.

Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said the 59 dead and 140 rescued would indicate the vessel had at least 199 aboard.

The vessel's manifest had 173 passengers and 14 crew for a total of 189 supposedly aboard the vessel.

Balilo said the Eastern Visayas unit has been instructed to conduct a body count, and count those rescued.

The Coast Guard has also declined to comment on speculations about the cause of the incident while an investigation is ongoing. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News