Manila, April 17 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has ramped up its search and rescue operations for the missing seafarers of a Chinese sand carrier that capsized off Rizal town in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday.

PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, assessed the extent of the incident after an aerial and site inspection of the area on Wednesday, together with Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog Commander, Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, according to a news release from the PCG issued Thursday.

Gavan cited the urgent need to intensify the search and rescue operation to save the lives of the remaining missing crew members of the MV Hong Hai 16.

Nine crew members of the ill-fated vessel - six Filipinos and three Chinese nationals - r...