MANILA: Divers from the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard are now clearing debris from the compartments of the sunken M/V Thomas Aquinas I in a bid to locate the 40 passengers and crewmen who are still missing after the ship sank last Aug 16.
The ship collided with M/V Sulpicio Express 7 off the coast of Talisay City in Cebu. At least 80 people were killed.
Navy Spokesperson Lt Cmdr Gregory Fabic said the operation started 8am yesterday.
He said that the divers are also hoping to find more bodies trapped inside the vessel.
Fabic added that a 130-strong Central Command contingent is still conducting oil spill clean-up in Cordova, Cebu.
The Philippine star
