At least eighteen people have died and dozens remain missing after a passenger ferry, the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, sank off the coast of Basilan province in the southern Philippines early Monday. The vessel was carrying around 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it went down shortly after departing the Port of Zamboanga City, en route to Jolo Island in Sulu province.
Philippine Coast Guard officials reported that at least 317 people have been rescued from the sea following the accident. Rescue operations, supported by the Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy, air assets, and local fishing boats, remain ongoing. Authorities said 24 people are still unaccounted for, and search and rescue efforts continue in the waters around Baluk‑Baluk Island, where the vessel sank.
According to officials, the ferry issued a distress call in the early hours of Monday, about four hours after leaving port, before it submerged roughly five kilometres from Baluk‑Baluk Island. Preliminary reports indicate the ship was not overloaded and had passed safety checks before departure, though the precise cause of the sinking is still under investigation.
Survivors described a sudden tilt of the vessel followed by water rushing in, forcing many passengers to jump into the sea in panic. Rescue crews were seen pulling survivors from the water and transporting them to safety. Authorities reported that the ferry was operating in normal weather conditions at the time of the incident, in contrast to many past maritime disasters in the archipelago, which often occurred during storms or rough seas.
Maritime accidents are unfortunately not uncommon in the Philippines, which comprises over 7,000 islands and relies heavily on ferry transport. Challenges such as aging vessels, maintenance issues, overcrowding, and inconsistent safety enforcement have contributed to serious incidents in the past, including the 1987 Dona Paz disaster, the deadliest peacetime maritime accident in history.
Philippine Coast Guard commanders and local government officials are working to support survivors, recover bodies, and determine the cause of the sinking. Hospitals in nearby provinces such as Basilan and Zamboanga are treating rescued passengers, including those with injuries or in shock. Authorities emphasized that figures for deaths and missing persons may be updated as rescue and recovery operations continue, and support efforts are being coordinated for families affected by the disaster.
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