Rescuers retrieve more bodies from ferry

MANILA, Philippines - Two more bodies were retrieved Thursday from the sea accident off Cagayan province, bringing the number of casualties to 47, a police official said. In an interview, Senior Inspector Alex de los Santos, chief of the Ballesteros Police Office, said the number of missing passengers is down to seven, while the number of survivors remained at 45. Of the 47 bodies, 30 have already been identified by their families. Passenger ferry M/B Mae Jian was bound for Aparri port when it capsized off Ballesteros town Sunday afternoon. The ferry carried 102 passengers and crew although was designed to carry only 50. — Businessworld