Manila, January 26 (QNA) – The Philippine Coast Guard recovered six bodies during search operations for the missing boat, "MBCA Amejara", off the coast of southeastern Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Nine people remain missing out of the 15 who were on board, while one person survived earlier.

The Southeast Mindanao Coast Guard Command announced that the last floating body was recovered off Boca Point in Sarangani province, noting that the boat was reported missing on January 19.

Coast Guard Commander in the region, Commodore Philipps Soria, confirmed that search and rescue operations are still ongoing in coordination with several government agencies. He added that teams will expand the search area based on updated drift analyses which indicates the possibility that the debris has reached Sarangani Bay and the northern Celebes Sea.

The waters off southern Philippines frequently experience accidents involving small boats due to unstable weather conditions. (QNA)