Death toll from Philippine ship collision climbs to 80

The death toll from the ship collision in the central Philippine province of Cebu rose to 80, the Philippine Coast Guard said Friday. Of the total number of fatalities, 76 were passengers and four were crew members of passenger vessel MV St. Thomas Aquinas, the state agency said. Some 40 people, including 34 passengers and six staff, were still missing while the number of survivors stood at 750, it added. The passenger vessel that belongs to the 2Go Travel Corporation collided with cargo ship Sulpico Express 7 last Friday night off the Lawis Ledge in Talisay City, Cebu. The tragedy also resulted in massive oil spill along some coastal areas of Cebu.