A ferry transporting 359 individuals including passengers and crew capsized early Monday near an island in the southern region of the Philippines, officials confirmed. The tragedy left a minimum of 18 people deceased, while rescue teams successfully retrieved hundreds more from the waters. Maritime authorities, deploying coast guard and naval vessels, continue searching for persons still unaccounted for.
According to coast guard reports, the steel-hulled M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 encountered mechanical complications shortly after midnight. The vessel suddenly leaned markedly to one side and began flooding, causing passengers to be thrown into the sea amid darkness. A survivor, Mohamad Khan, recounted losing his six-month-old child during the incident, describing how his wife lost grip of the baby as they were separated in the water. Both Khan and his wife were rescued, but the infant tragically drowned. Khan's emotional account was shared by volunteer rescuer Gamar Alih on social media.
The ferry had been operating in favorable weather conditions on a route from Zamboanga city heading to Jolo island in Sulu province. Commander Romel Dua of the coast guard reported that the ferry sank approximately one nautical mile, nearly two kilometers, off the coast of the Baluk-baluk village in Basilan province.
"Two coast guard safety officers were aboard the ferry and were the first to alert authorities, which facilitated the prompt deployment of rescue vessels," Dua stated. Notably, these safety marshals were among the survivors.
Rescue operations led to at least 316 people being brought to safety, in addition to recovery of 18 bodies. Search efforts involving coast guard and naval vessels have been augmented by patrol aircraft, an air force Black Hawk helicopter, and local fishing boats, targeting roughly two dozen missing passengers believed to be in the vicinity of Basilan.
The immediate cause behind the vessel's sinking has not been established. The ferry had previously passed inspection by the coast guard before departing from Zamboanga, with no indications of impropriety such as overloading. However, officials acknowledged ongoing inquiries and investigations into the incident.
Dua noted that unconfirmed reports suggest approximately 15 passengers listed on the ferry’s manifest may have cancelled their trips at the last minute and secured refunds, a factor that could lower the count of those missing if verified.
Volunteer rescuer and Zamboanga city councilor Gamar Alih participated in search efforts, motivated partly by concern for relatives aboard the ferry, all of whom survived. Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman confirmed reception of survivors and two deceased at the provincial capital, Isabela, where medical and emergency services were on standby.
Maritime accidents of this nature are frequent within the Philippine archipelago due to a combination of factors including adverse weather, poor maintenance of vessels, passenger overcrowding, and inconsistent enforcement of maritime safety protocols, especially in remote areas.
Authorities continue to prioritize rescue operations while proceeding with the investigation to determine the precise circumstances leading to the ferry’s loss.