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Death toll in Philippine ferry fire rises to 76 as rescuers recover more remains
CNN • • world
Key Points:
- Philippine rescuers recovered 41 additional charred bodies from a ferry fire, increasing the death toll to 76, with 13 people still missing as forensic teams work to identify the victims.
- The ferry, carrying over 130 passengers, caught fire near the end of a 20-hour journey, with survivors reporting two explosions before the blaze rapidly spread.
- Firefighters accessed the ferry's interior for the first time after extinguishing the fire more than a day later, discovering remains in the economy accommodation section amid extensive damage.
- Authorities are prioritizing victim identification and investigating the fire's cause, while the fate of the ferry's captain remains unclear, with conflicting reports about his survival.
- This incident is the latest in a series of deadly maritime accidents in the Philippines, where ferry travel is a vital mode of transportation across the archipelago's 7,600 islands.
