Death toll rises to 59 after Philippine Ferry capsizes

The death toll rose to 59 as rescuers found more bodies from a capsized passenger boat in the Philippines, the coast guard said Saturday.

The ferry was raised out of the water off Ormoc City, 560 kilometres south-east of Manila, said Captain Pedro Tinampay, a regional commander of the coast guard.

Tinampay said 140 people were rescued after the accident happened Thursday shortly after the boat left port in Ormo, dpa reported.

"Based on initial investigation, the number of passengers and crew was more than the capacity of the boat," he said. "That is a clear violation." Tinampay said rescuers will continue the search for victims.