A ferry carrying more than 350 passengers sank near an island in the southern Philippines early on Monday, resulting in at least 13 confirmed deaths and dozens of individuals still unaccounted for. The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, which was transporting 332 passengers and 27 crew members from the port city of Zamboanga to Jolo Island in Sulu Province, encountered technical difficulties and went down shortly after midnight.
The incident occurred in calm weather conditions approximately one nautical mile (nearly 2 kilometers) off the coast of Baluk-baluk village in Basilan Province. Coast guard commander Romel Dua reported that rescue operations were initiated promptly, with at least 244 passengers successfully rescued and 13 bodies retrieved from the water. Many survivors were initially taken to safety at Baluk-baluk.
Mujiv Hataman, the governor of Basilan, confirmed that some of the rescued passengers and two deceased individuals were transported to Isabela, the provincial capital. Speaking via cellphone from the Isabela pier, Hataman stated, “I’m receiving 37 people here in the pier. Unfortunately, two are dead.”
The cause of the ferry’s sinking remains unclear, and an investigation into the incident has been launched. Commander Dua noted that the coast guard had cleared the ferry for its voyage from Zamboanga and found no evidence of overloading.
Maritime accidents are unfortunately common in the Philippines, an archipelago frequently affected by storms, poorly maintained vessels, and inadequate enforcement of safety regulations. In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, leading to a catastrophic loss of life with over 4,300 fatalities, marking it as the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime disaster.
The Philippine Coast Guard, along with navy ships, a surveillance aircraft, an air force Black Hawk helicopter, and local fishing boats, has been actively involved in the search and rescue operations off the coast of Basilan. The ongoing efforts reflect the urgency and seriousness of the situation as authorities strive to account for all individuals who were aboard the ferry.
