Ferry With Over 350 Onboard Sinks Off Southern Philippines, At Least 15 Dead

What happened:
A passenger ferry carrying more than 350 people sank shortly after midnight off the coast of Basilan province in the southern Philippines, leaving at least 15 people dead and triggering a large-scale rescue operation, authorities said on Monday.

Where and how:
The vessel, M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, was travelling from Zamboanga City to Jolo island in Sulu province when it went down about a nautical mile off Basilan. The inter-island ferry was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members at the time of the incident.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the ferry encountered technical problems before sinking, despite good weather conditions.

Rescue operations underway:
More than 300 passengers have been rescued so far as search-and-rescue efforts continue for any missing persons. Coast Guard commander Romel Dua said a safety officer onboard managed to send an alert moments before the vessel sank, allowing authorities to respond quickly.

“There was a coast guard safety officer on board and he was the first to call and alert us to deploy rescue vessels,” Dua said.

Rescue teams deployed coast guard and navy ships, a surveillance aircraft, an air force Black Hawk helicopter, and nearby fishing boats to assist survivors in the waters off Basilan.

Casualties and survivors:
Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman confirmed that survivors and victims were brought to Isabela City, the provincial capital. Local officials said many passengers were initially rescued and taken to Baluk-Baluk village, near the site of the sinking.

Emergency responders warned that local medical facilities are under strain due to the number of injured passengers being brought in.

“The challenge here really is the number of patients that are coming in. We are short-staffed at the moment,” said emergency responder Ronalyn Perez.

Authorities later confirmed that at least 15 bodies had been recovered as rescue efforts continued through the day.

Cause under investigation:
Officials said there was no initial indication of overloading, and the ferry had been cleared for departure from Zamboanga port. An investigation has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the sinking, including possible mechanical failure.

A recurring problem:
Maritime accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, where sea travel is a primary mode of transport. Such incidents are often linked to ageing vessels, poor maintenance, overcrowding, and uneven enforcement of safety rules.

The country has witnessed some of the world’s deadliest ferry disasters, including the 1987 sinking of the Dona Paz, which killed more than 4,300 people after colliding with a fuel tanker.

What to watch next:

• Completion of search operations for missing passengers

• Findings from the technical investigation

• Possible safety reviews for inter-island ferry services

Authorities said rescue efforts will continue until all passengers are accounted for.