Death toll in ship collision rises to 52

Philippine Navy divers retrieve a body from the waters off the coast of Talisay city, Cebu province, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, a day after a passenger ferry MV Thomas of Aquinas collided with a cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete. AP

MANILA, Philippines–The death toll from the ship collision off Cebu last Friday rose to 52 as more fatalities were recovered by rescuers Monday.

As of 10:50 a.m. Monday, the number of fatalities stood at 52 while missing persons were down to 68, the Philippine Coast Guard said in its Twitter account.

Rescued persons were still at 750.

Search operations resumed early Monday, with technical divers attempting to go inside the ship after putting entry and exit marks on Sunday.

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 had a total of over 800 passengers and crew.