Nearly 170 still missing from Cebu sea mishap, says NDRRMC

A cluster of life rafts floats near the cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete Saturday Aug. 17, 2013, a day after it collided with a passenger ferry off the waters of Talisay city, Cebu province in central Philippines. AP

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 170 persons are still missing from the Cebu sea mishap on Friday, data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed.

As of 9 a.m. Sunday, 169 persons are still unaccounted for, while rescued persons increased to 667.

Deaths increased to 33.

It added that the City Government of Cebu has already released P683 million worth of assistance.

Nineteen of the fatalities were already identified, the NDRRMC said.

The MV Sulpicio Express 7 Cargo vessel bound for Davao City and MV St. Thomas Aquinas (2Go) passenger vessel from Butuan bound for Cebu collided off Talisay City in Cebu late Friday.

Both ships has 869 passengers and crew, the NDRRMC said.

Vessels from both firms were grounded and subjected for immediate inspection on Saturday afternoon by maritime authorities.

Search and rescue operations were also halted Saturday due to bad weather and resumed Sunday morning.