By Blessing Nweke
At least 15 people have died after a ferry carrying more than 350 passengers and crew sank in the southern Philippines, authorities confirmed on Monday. Search and rescue teams have so far saved 316 people from the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, but at least 28 others remain missing as operations continue.
The vessel, which was transporting both passengers and cargo, was traveling from the southern mainland of Mindanao to Jolo Island in the Sulu archipelago when it issued a distress call at around 1:50 a.m. local time on Monday (17:50 GMT on Sunday). Shortly after the call, the ferry went down in waters off Basilan province.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, survivors reported that sea conditions were rough at the time of the incident. Coast Guard spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab said investigators are looking into weather conditions, vessel stability, and possible mechanical issues to determine the cause of the sinking.
Images and videos shared by local officials showed exhausted survivors wrapped in blankets as they disembarked from rescue boats. Many were treated for hypothermia, injuries, and shock. Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman posted footage on Facebook showing coast guard personnel distributing food and assisting passengers to safety.
Emergency responders said local facilities were overwhelmed by the number of survivors needing medical attention. “The challenge really is the number of patients that are coming in. We are short-staffed at the moment,” Basilan emergency responder Ronalyn Perez told AFP.
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands, relies heavily on ferries for inter-island travel. However, the country has a long history of maritime disasters, often linked to poor maintenance, overloading, and lax safety enforcement. Despite repeated accidents, ferries remain a popular mode of transport due to their affordability.
In recent years, several deadly ferry incidents have occurred, including a 2023 fire that killed 28 people and a 2022 blaze on a high-speed ferry that claimed at least seven lives.