Toll in Philippines ferry fire rises to 76; 13 missing

Philippine rescuers recovered 41 more charred remains from a ferry fire, authorities said on Saturday, raising the death toll to 76 and leaving 13 people unaccounted for, as forensic teams faced the daunting task of identifying the victims.That painstaking process had already begun after 30 bodies recovered on Friday were brought to a port in Coron town, where temporary tents were set up for forensic teams to process and identify the dead. Philippine firefighters managed to board the burnt-out ferry on Friday, more than a day after it caught fire on Wednesday on its way from Manila to the western province of Palawan.The Coast Guard said burnt remains were discovered in the ferry's economy accommodation section.Images released by the Coast Guard showed the scale of the destruction inside the vessel, with rows of steel bed frames twisted by intense heat and blanketed in ash.A statement from the Maritime Industry Authority, citing survivor accounts, said two explosions were heard inside the vessel shortly before the fire broke out.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.