The death toll from a passenger boat that capsized in rough seas in the Philippines rose to 45 Friday after navy divers retrieved bodies from the vessel, the coast guard said. No other passengers or crew members were missing, while 142 were rescued from the waters where the MB Kim Nirvana capsized after being battered by huge waves off the port in Ormoc City, 560 kilometers south-east of Manila, dpa reported. The vessel was carrying a total of 187 people, said Commander Armand Balilo, a spokesman for the coast guard. The number of missing declined after authorities reconciled the number of rescued from hospitals. The boat was just 200 meters from the Ormoc port when the accident happened on Thursday, Balilo said. It was on the way to Camotes Island, one hour away. Initial investigation showed the boat was slammed by huge waves, causing it to turn on its right side before capsizing, he added.
