CORON, Philippines (AP) — Firefighters found burnt human remains on Friday inside a ferry that caught fire in Philippine waters two nights earlier, leaving five dead and 84 missing, the coast guard said.
It was not clear how many additional fatalities were found, with officials saying more details will be released on Saturday.
Images provided by the coast guard showed the gutted interior of the ship and what appeared to be charred remains, ashes and burnt metal, including a car.
A coast guard statement said the fire was declared out, and the response team conducted a safety assessment. Rescuers on Thursday struggled to get inside the burning vessel because of the heat and smoke, and efforts to search for passengers who may been trapped were halted overnight.
Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, the coast guard spokesperson, said the coast guard, police and other agencies were “undertaking the proper recovery and identification of the remains in accordance with established procedures.”