Coast Guard recovers 2 more bodies from capsized Chinese vessel

The capsized Chinese sand carrier MV Hong Hai 16 lies belly up in the waters of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro province, on April 15. (Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard)

CITY OF CALAPAN – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in coordination with partner agencies, recovered two more bodies on Friday afternoon (April 18) during the search, retrieval, and environmental monitoring operations following the capsizing of the Chinese vessel  MV Hong Hai 16.

This brought the confirmed death toll to six, with five crew members still missing.

The sand carrier capsized on Tuesday, some 100 meters off the coast of Barangay Malawaan in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro.

The vessel had 25 Filipino and Chinese crew members on board and was engaged in dredging operations in a river in Rizal town at the time of the incident.

According to the PCG, the first body was recovered at 2:10 p.m. during the second dive, located in the vessel’s accommodation area.

The second body was found at approximately 3:28 p.m. during the third dive, inside Cargo Hold No. 1.

The identities of the two recovered individuals have yet to be confirmed.

The owner of the MV Hong Hai 16 has contracted a professional salvor to lead the salvage operation.

The salvor’s equipment is expected to arrive at the site by Monday, the PCG reported.