4 dead, 7 missing after Chinese sand carrier capsizes off Occidental Mindoro

Four individuals have died following the capsizing of the Chinese sand carrier MV Hong Hai 16 off Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday afternoon.

Two more bodies were recovered inside the ship by divers from the Coast Guard Special Operations Unit - Southern Tagalog.

One Chinese crew member died on the way to a local hospital, while a Filipino crew member's remains were recovered from the bridge area.

Of the 23 individuals on board, 14 crew members have survived, while seven others remain missing.

The Philippine Coast Guard has requested survivors to assist in the identification of the recovered bodies.

Oil spill booms have been deployed around the capsized vessel to contain a possible oil spill.