Philippines says it may take months to identify ferry fire victims

The authorities in the Philippines said it could take weeks or months to identify the victims of a ferry fire that killed 76 people, as forensic experts begin collecting and comparing DNA samples from charred remains and investigators determine what caused one of the country’s deadliest maritime disasters in recent years.



Some remains were found clustered together in parts of the vessel, according forensic specialist Richard Allan Mangalip from the Philippine National Police, while others were scattered across different areas of the ship, which was carrying more than 130 people and was nearing its destination when it caught fire.



The ferry was heading south-west from Manila to Coron, in Palawan province, a trip that generally takes about 20 hours.



That assessment came a day after rescuers recovered 41 additional remains from the ferry, raising the death toll to 76 and leaving 13 people unaccounted for.

Officials said more remains could still be found because investigators have not yet fully searched flooded sections of the vessel.