Debris keeps divers from retrieving bodies from ferry

MANILA, Philippines - Naval divers were unable to retrieve bodies from the sunken M/V St. Thomas Aquinas yesterday, saying that search operations were made difficult by debris and dark areas in the sea.

Lieutenant Commander Noel Escalona, operations officer of the Naval Forces Central, said the passengers’ belongings are making it hard for the divers to find bodies.

“There are several bags, luggage and mattress foams inside the ship, so it’s hard to clear the area,” Escalona said in Filipino. “Based on the feedback of the divers, it was really dark below. They searched (for the bodies) but there were lots of floating debris.”

“It’s (search operation) becoming harder every day,” he added.

Three teams of Navy divers conducted search operations yesterday. Escalona said the divers can only stay underwater for about 25 to 30 minutes due to the water’s depth. Navy frogmen could stay longer underwater if they had more oxygen, which would entail huge costs. The provincial management council provides oxygen to divers, who consume about 10 tanks a day.

“We need more divers. Our divers are getting tired. They have been diving for a week,” Escalona admitted.

But the Navy remains optimistic that more bodies can be retrieved in the succeeding search operations.

At least 80 people died and 40 others are still missing after M/V St. Thomas Aquinas 1 of 2Go Shipping collided with the Sulpicio Express Siete outside a major port in Talisay, Cebu last Aug. 16. More than 700 passengers survived the accident. A Special Board of Marine Inquiry has been formed to look into the mishap.