Zamboanga - The death toll from a ferry accident in the southern Philippines rose to 74 yesterday as authorities started an inquiry and sacked three coastguard officers who had allowed the overloaded vessel to sail.
The Coastguard deputy commander, Commodore Reuben Lista, said rescuers retrieved 17 more bodies off Jolo island, where the overloaded motor launch, Anahada, capsized on Wednesday night.