The death toll from the sand carrier that capsized off the waters of Occidental Mindoro last Holy Wednesday rose to six while five others are still missing.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recovered the bodies of two crewmen during the search and retrieval operation by coast guard divers on Friday afternoon.

"During the second dive at approximately 2:10 pm, one body was recovered from the vessel’s accommodation area. A second deceased individual was located in Cargo Hold No. 1 at around 3:28 pm during the third dive," it stated.

PCG divers also retrieved vessel documents and personal belongings, contributing to identification efforts and supporting the ongoing investigation.

Last Thursday, a body from the accommodation area below the bridge of the capsized vessel was recovered at 8:15 and at approximately 11:36 am another body was found at the cabin located at the main deck of the vessel.

On Wednesday afternoon the Coast Guard divers recovered the body of a 22-year-old Filipino crew member from the bridge area of the vessel while a Chinese crewman also died at the hospital earlier on the same day.

MV Hong Hai 16, a sand carrier overturned about 100 meters off Barangay Malawaan, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on Wednesday.

No significant environmental threat has so far been identified.

The PCG noted that the owner of MV Hong Hai 16 has already contracted a professional salvor to undertake salvage operations. The salvor’s equipment is expected to arrive on-site by Monday (April 21 2025). Robina Asido/DMS