More bodies from capsized Philippines ferry wash ashore

Manila: Philippines authorities found 14 more bodies from the capsized ferry along the coast on Wednesday, as another cargo ship sank in choppy waters, killing one.

The bodies were discovered in three coastal areas in the northern Cagayan province, bringing the death toll from Sunday's accident to, Senior Inspector Alex de los Santos said.

"Some of the fatalities could no longer be identified," he told reporters, adding some bodies were found more than 30 km from the site of the capsize. "We will continue the search until all bodies are accounted for."

Nine other passengers from the ferry Maejan were missing. Forty-five people survived by swimming or clinging to driftwood and other objects until they reached the shore in Cagayan's Aparri township, he said.

Meanwhile, a cargo ship loaded with cement sank in the central Philippines, killing one crew member, the coast guard said on Wednesday.

Maria Lourdes, a 639-ton cargo ship loaded with bags of cement, sent a distress call after its engine failed on Tuesday afternoon, and sank hours later off Caluya island in Antique province, coast guard regional chief, Cmdr. Harold Harder said.

Rough waves were reported at the time of the sinking, he said.

The ship's chief engineer drowned and 19 others were rescued and brought to Caluya.