41 Killed in Philippines Ferry Accident

Police and rescuers comfort a crying passenger after he was brought ashore from a capsized passenger ferry July 2, 2015, in Ormoc city, central Philippines.

Philippine authorities say the death toll from a ferry accident has risen to 41 and that at least five people remain missing.

At least 134 passengers were rescued or swam ashore after the Kim Nirvana went down Thursday just minutes after leaving Ormoc City on the island of Leyte on its regular route to the Camotes Islands.

Officials said Friday six more bodies were found and that bad weather is hampering the search effort for the others.

An initial investigation suggests a combination of bad weather and human error led to the wreck of the wooden ship.

Eyewitnesses say the vessel was being hit by strong waves when it made a sharp right turn. The passengers then crowded to one side of the boat, causing it to list.

Rescuers help passengers from a capsized ferry boat, center, in Ormoc city on Leyte Island, Philippines, July 2, 2015.

Workers on Friday are using a crane to turn the partially submerged vessel on its side, in an attempt to find more bodies.

Ferry accidents kill dozens, if not hundreds of people each year in the Philippines, thanks in part to overcrowding and poor safety standards.

Passenger boats are an important mode of transportation in the archipelago nation, which is made up of more than 7,000 islands.