The death toll from the fishing vessel that capsized near the waters off Sta. Ana, Cagayan rose to seven following the recovery of the six missing fishermen, the Northern Luzon Naval Command reported on Wednesday night.

Lt. Commander Edmund Aguila, Northern Luzon Naval Command public affairs officer, said six of the 13 fishermen on board the fishing vessel FB Jhobenz 01 were rescued while seven were found dead during the search and rescue operation following the incident last Monday.

"Six crew members have been successfully rescued, while the seven cadavers recovered during the operations have been formally turned over to the appropriate authorities for proper identification, documentation, and coordination with their respective families," he said.

The search and rescue operations were done by Naval Special Warfare Unit 2 (NSWU2) in coordination with the Coast Guard Station (CGS), Sta. Ana, Cagayan, Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

FB Jhobenz 01 anchored in the area approximately 0.3 nautical miles Northeast of Sta. Ana Cagayan for shelter when it was hit by successive waves and battered by strong winds causing the watercraft to tilt and capsize. Robina Asido/DMS