Ferry carrying over 350 people sinks in the Philippines: 15 dead, 28 missing.
In the early hours of January 26th, a serious maritime accident occurred in southern the Philippines when a ferry carrying over 350 passengers suddenly sank. As of now, authorities have confirmed at least 15 deaths and dozens more are still missing.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the ferry in distress was named MV Trisha Kerstin 3. The vessel sent out a distress signal at approximately 1:50 AM (local time), about four hours after leaving Zamboanga port en route to Jolo Island in Sulu province.
The shipwreck was located approximately 5km east of Baluk-Baluk Island (in Basilan province). At the time of the accident, there were a total of 359 people on board, including 332 passengers and 27 crew members.
Immediately after receiving the report, the Philippines launched a large-scale rescue operation.
According to Romel Dua, commander of the Southern Mindanao Coast Guard, as of this morning, rescue teams have successfully rescued 316 people. However, the tragedy has claimed the lives of 15 people, and 28 remain missing.
"Coast Guard aircraft are en route to provide assistance. The Navy and Air Force have also deployed assets to participate in the rescue," Mr. Dua informed the press, adding that weather conditions in the search area are currently calm, facilitating rescue efforts.
At Isabela port (Basilan province), Governor Mujiv Hataman said that most survivors were in stable condition, although some elderly people needed urgent medical attention. Ronalyn Perez, a rescue worker in Basilan, shared that local hospitals were struggling due to the overwhelming number of patients being brought in at once.
Currently, the exact cause of the ferry sinking has not been determined. Commander Romel Dua confirmed that authorities will conduct a maritime accident investigation as soon as the rescue operation is complete.
Notably, the Philippine Coast Guard stated in a press release that the ferry was not overloaded. The vessel's permitted capacity was 352 passengers, while the actual number on board was 332 passengers and 27 crew members.
The Philippines, an archipelago nation with over 7,000 islands, frequently faces maritime accidents due to bad weather, outdated vessels, or lax safety regulations. Previously, in 2023, a serious ferry fire in the southern part of the country killed more than 30 people.
