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Manila: Rescuers on Tuesday reported finding 18 bodies trapped inside the walls of the ferry which went down in rough seas off the central Philippines on Saturday even as 63 survivors have so far been plucked from the sea.
"We constantly wait for miracles. We hope to find survivors in waters between Marinduque and Quezon," said Captain Gilbert Rueras of the Philippine Coast Guard.
"Divers of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard found dead bodies with life vests on. The bodies of a crew member and two passengers were found in the cabin section of the MV Princess of the Stars. Another 15 bodies were found in the economy class," said Navy Spokesman Lt Col Edgard Arevalo.
"We are using sinkers to ensure that the upper edges of the vessel don't present difficulties as we try to remove the bodies. A strong force makes the bodies move vertically. It is very hard to move them horizontally, out of the ship," said Arevalo.
"Our priority is to retrieve all the trapped bodies. I think many of the victims were still alive when the ship sank. They rough waters probably led to their death," said Arevalo. "We expect to find more bodies; up until now the turbulence has been interfering with our work. We need more light. It is too dark in there."
Rescuers were trying to cut into the hull of the vessel, the Coast Guard said in a report. A radio report, however, claimed that "a part of the hull was removed to free trapped bodies."
Bodies found at sea
Local fishermen in their small boats also reported seeing bloated bodies near the ill-fated vessel but they could not give an exact count of the number of bodies.
About 12 bodies were brought to shore by residents of Masbate, an area adjoining the site of Saturday's tragedy.
Some 20 dead bodies, also believed to be those of the ferry passengers, were found as far away as Mulanay, a town in southern Luzon, and in the Burias Island.
With inputs from Rafael Juan, Correspondent
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