LEGAZPI CITY---The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol Wednesday has accounted so far 43 dead bodies retrieved from the waters of the region and listed some 54 survivors from a number of sea mishaps at the height of Typhoon Frank, of which MV Princess of the Stars recorded the highest fatalities of over 800 passengers.

        Aside from the MV Princess of the Stars that sank in rough seas off Sibuyan Island in Romblon, the OCD Bicol reported that at least eight fishing boats and one cargo vessel also went down under the sea last Saturday.The OCD said that among the fishing boats that capsized from the battering of Typhoon Frank included F/B Mary Eugence, F/B Junar, F/B Nicole Louise 2, M/V Princess Claire, F/B South Seas, a cargo vessel loaded with coal, and Lake Paoay. There were some 129 crew members in the eight fishing vessels.

        Supt. Theodore Reuben Sindac, police provincial director of Masbate, reported that the 43 dead bodies retrieved by fishermen in the waters off Masbate Island and he added that in his province another 14 persons were missing and 15 persons rescued after the sea mishaps.

        Sindac said that four crew members of F/B Nicole Louise 2, a 44.33 tonner vessel owned by certain Allan Daniel of Cadiz City, were rescued in Barangay Mahayahay, Cawayan, Masbate.

        He identified three survivors from Escalante, Negros Occidental the fishermen of Masbate rescued as Rogelio Ancayos Mermida, 62, of Danao Port, Geronimo Sante Guardiana, 36, and another one from Cadiz City identified as Salvador Marcos Sina, 38.

        Sindac said the fishing vessel of the survivors was hit by a tornado at the height of the typhoon in Cebu City and later they were swept to the waters off the coast of Masbate.

        He said that the list of missing persons from the sea mishaps included Sandy Guelos, Eusenio Artajo, Victor Nepangue, Freddie Mansan, Antonio Hugasan Jr., Nandy Pasilan, Dondon Nepangue, Junel Sagal, Ronnie Nasic, Raymundo Barellas, Joel Abargues, Joseph Siboyro, Eduardo Bagaporo and Roger Avanud.

        The Masbate police director said that a certain Benedicto Tamayo, 47, of Sebunag in Guimaras, Iloilo was also rescued Monday in Barangay Pasig, Claveria, Burias Island. Tamayo was a crew of F/B Mary Eugence.

        A day earlier, Jomer Siasco, Antonio Berder and Allan Posadas were rescued while 11 dead bodies were also retrieved in the shores of the towns of Esperanza and Balud in Masbate province.

        OCD Bicol chief Bernardo Alejandro told Bombo Radyo-Legazpi Wednesday that officials from the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development and Philippine National Police had accompanied him to the search and rescue operation in the towns of San Pascual and Claveria.

        Alejandro said the team went to the coastal towns on board a two helicopters the Southern Luzon Command provided.

        He reported that they found 12 decomposing bodies in San Pascual town who were ordered buried after health officials took samples from the cadavers for identification.

        In Claveria town, Alejandro said, 20 survivors were sent home after their identities had been recorded and added that six fishermen fatalities were identified with the aid of the fellow fishermen.