2 more bodies recovered from capsized ship off Occidental Mindoro

Two more bodies have been recovered from inside the capsized MV Hong Hai 16 in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro.

According to an update on Thursday, divers located the first body at approximately 8:15 a.m. near the accommodation area below the bridge.

The second body was found at 11:36 a.m. at the cabin located on the main deck.

Identification of the recovered bodies is yet to be disclosed, while survivors are asked to go to the site to identify the victims.

With the discovery, the number of missing victims is now down to seven, while the number of confirmed deaths has climbed up to 4.

The Marine Environmental Protection Enforcement Response Group – Southern Tagalog has deployed 10 segments or 250 meters of oil spill boom to mitigate possible oil spill resulting from the capsizing.

According to PCG, no visible oil sheen in the vicinity has been observed as of the most recent surface assessment.

In an earlier report, PCG shared that MV Hong Hai had 13 Filipinos, 12 Chinese nationals on board.

The PCG said that the oil spill booms were only a precaution, as the ship did not carry crude oil, and that the automotive oil would only likely evaporate into the air.

“The PCG remains committed to ensuring the safety of its responders and minimizing the environmental impact of the incident… Philippine Red Cross volunteers conducted health assessments on all response personnel to ensure they remain in optimal physical condition throughout their operations,” the statement read.

The statement followed after a PCG diver was rushed to the hospital due to diving sickness.

“As a diver also, this is not a recreational activity. It is a high-risk activity. Actually, nagpepenetrate ang mga divers natin into a confined space with debris," Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Southern Tagalog District Commander Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla said in Bam Alegre's report on "24 Oras."

"They’ve been doing this frequently, so nandiyan yung madi-disorient ka at times (you will sometimes get disoriented)," he added.

"The good thing is he was safe. There was just a difficulty breathing. Luckily, he was okay. He was at the hospital for further medical attention,” Tuvilla said.

The PCG had also sent a demand letter asking the owners of MV Hong Hai 16 to face their responsibility to the surviving crew.

The local government is currently shouldering the food and accommodation in place of the contractor.

“May-ari na makipag-coordinate. Tatlong araw na rin na lumubog [ang barko], at least mayroon [sana] tayong kausap,” said Rizal, Occidental Mindoro mayor Ernesto Pablo Jr.

(The owner should be the one to coordinate. It’s been three days since [the vessel] sank, so [we should have had] someone to talk to.)

The PCG said it was continuing intensified efforts in its ongoing response to search for the missing victims. –NB, GMA Integrated News