Death toll from Philippine ferry fire jumps to 35
Rescuers recover 30 bodies on Friday after managing to gain access to the vessel, which had caught fire on its way from Manila to Palawan
Philippine rescuers recovered 30 bodies from a burned-out ferry on Friday, raising the death toll from the blaze to 35, authorities said.
Firefighters found the remains after they gained access to the vessel for the first time, having extinguished a fire that had hampered search and rescue efforts since Wednesday night.
Responders in protective suits were seen carrying black body bags from a small boat onto a coastguard vessel, video footage released by the coastguard showed.
Thick smoke and extreme heat had earlier prevented rescuers from entering the ferry, which was carrying more than 130 people when it was engulfed in flames.