A Philippine passenger boat with 189 people on board has capsized off the coast of Ormoc City around noon on Thursday.  Authorities are still attempting to determine if bad weather or human error caused the deadly accident.

ABC News reported that many of M/B Kim Nirvana's crew and passengers were rescued. Thus far, 36 bodies have been recovered and rescuers are still looking for 26 missing people. Rescuers are concentrating their search on the capsized boat in hopes that the missing are still inside the boat.

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The survivors were reportedly saved by nearby civilian vessels and local coast guards. Others were able to swim to the shore, which is approximately 200 meters away from the capsized boat. Those in need of medical attention have been transported to the city's various hospitals.

Armand Balilo, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, informed reporters that the wooden ferry was heading for the Camotes Islands, which is less than 45 kilometers South of Ormoc City. He said that the accident happened minutes after the boat left the port. The passenger boat had reportedly encountered strong waves.

Balilo said the coast guard found that the outriggers of the passenger ferry has been damaged, which may indicate that human error was involved, according to a Yahoo report.

Among the survivors are the boat's captain and other members of the crew. The local police have reportedly taken them in as part of their official investigation.

Although the monsoon season has started in the Philippines, the weather bureau said that there were no strong winds detected at the area at the time of the accident.

Investigators are also considering the idea that overloading may have contributed to the accident. CNN reported that the 36-ton boat has the capacity to accommodate 193 people. However, the vessel was also carrying a considerable load of cargo including sacks of rice. Many of the passengers reportedly carried various supplies and merchandise with them as they journeyed back to their homes in the Camotes Island.

Four foreigners including one Canadian and three Americans are listed among the survivors.

Ormoc City is located in the central parts of the Philippines, which is constantly visited by numerous typhoons. In late 2013, thousands of Ormoc residents were killed when Typhoon Haiyan hit the city.

TagsPhilippine ferry accident, M/V Kim Nirvana, Philippine sea rescue, Ormoc, Philippine boat capsize, ferry capsize, american survivors, philippine outrigger, philippine coast guard