17 more bodies recovered from Sulpicio ship

Divers yesterday recovered 17 more bodies from the sunken M/V Princess of the Stars, bringing to 192 the total number of bodies so far retrieved, Coast Guard officials said.

Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, Philippine Coast Guard commandant, said divers of the local salvaging firm Harbor Star found the 17 bodies on the navigation deck of the 23,000-gross-ton vessel.

The M/V Princess of the Stars, owned by Sulpicio Lines Inc., capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon last June 21 at the height of typhoon “Frank.”

The Cebu-bound vessel entered the eye of Frank and was buffeted by strong winds and waves, causing it to tilt by 40 degrees to its port side (left side) and turn over completely.

There were more than 800 people on board the vessel. The Coast Guard said at least 33 survived the sea tragedy, more than 200 were confirmed dead, and about 515 remain missing.

Meanwhile, Tamayo said the Coast Guard rescued all 11 crewmembers of M/V Carnel-5 that capsized off Lubang Island over the weekend.

“We dispatched SARV 003 with a medical team to proceed and receive the 11 survivors of M/V Carnel-5,” Tamayo said in a phone interview.