Rescuers

Authorities moved forward gingerly Friday in dealing with the fire still smoldering amid potentially dangerous chemicals.

A rapid succession of explosions late Wednesday — one equal to 21 tons of TNT — killed at least 50 people, injured more than 700 and left more than a dozen firefighters missing. 

Marine police and fishermen calling for body bags raced to a dock on Thursday. A rescue official confirmed they are carrying two bodies but spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to give information to journalists.

Four bodies were recovered on Wednesday after the crash of a U.S.-made Sikorsky S-76C+ belonging to the Houston, Texas-based Bristow Group.

The bodies were recovered hours after coast guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said all 187 passengers and crew members on the M/B Kim Nirvana had been accounted for, with 45 dead, 142 survivors and no reports of anyone else missing. The vessel overturned in choppy waters on Thursday off Ormoc City.