350+ On Board: Philippine Ferry Disaster Kills 15, Triggers Massive Rescue Operation – Dozens Missing in Tragic Sea Accident
A ferry carrying over 350 people sank in the Philippines, killing at least 15 passengers and leaving dozens missing as a massive rescue operation continues
A ferry carrying more than 350 people has capsized off the southern Philippine province of Basilan, killing at least 15 people, according to officials.
The accident occurred after midnight on Monday as the passenger vessel, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, was en route to Jolo Island in southern Sulu after departing the port city of Zamboanga.
The vessel, which had 332 passengers on record and 27 crew, issued a distress signal at 1:50am on Monday (17:50 GMT Sunday), about four hours after it departed Zamboanga City, according to the Philippine coastguard.
The ferry sank in good weather about 1 nautical mile (nearly 2km) from the island village of Baluk-baluk in Basilan province, where many of the survivors were initially taken, the coastguard said.
Coastguard Commander Romel Dua of Southern Mindanao District told the AFP news agency that at least 316 people had been rescued so far, with 15 confirmed dead and 28 still unaccounted for.
“A coast guard aircraft is also on the way to help the operation. The Navy and Air Force also sent their assets,” Dua told AFP.
Emergency responders in Basilan said those who were rescued and needed medical attention were brought to a hospital in the capital city of Isabela.
“The challenge here really is the number of patients that are coming in. We are short-staffed at the moment,” said Ronalyn Perez, a medic.
Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman posted clips from the scene at Isabela port in Mindanao on Facebook, showing survivors being ushered off boats, some wrapped in thermal blankets and others being carried on stretchers.
Hataman told DZBB radio that most survivors were doing well, but several elderly passengers needed emergency medical care.
He added that authorities were still cross-checking the passenger manifest as rescue efforts proceeded.
Dua, the coastguard commander in Mindanao, said the cause of the ferry sinking was not immediately clear and that there would be an investigation. He added that the coastguard cleared the ferry before it left the Zamboanga port, and there was no sign of overloading.
Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, badly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.
On Friday, at least two Filipino sailors were reported killed, and 15 others were rescued after a Singapore-flagged general cargo vessel en route to China from the southern island of Mindanao sank. Four other sailors remain missing.
Last Monday, a private vessel also sank off the Davao region in Mindanao, leaving at least six dead and nine others missing.
In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, killing more than 4,300 people in the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster.
A devastating maritime tragedy unfolded in the Philippines when a ferry carrying more than 350 people sank, killing at least 15 passengers and leaving dozens more missing. The incident has triggered a massive search-and-rescue operation involving the Philippine Coast Guard, navy units, local fishermen, and emergency responders, as authorities race against time to locate survivors in the treacherous waters.
The ferry was reportedly en route between two coastal provinces when it encountered trouble in rough seas. Within minutes, the vessel began taking on water and eventually capsized, throwing hundreds of passengers into the open sea. Survivors described scenes of panic and chaos as people scrambled for life jackets and clung to floating debris.
According to initial reports, the ferry departed from a busy port with over 350 passengers and crew members on board. Midway through its journey, the vessel encountered strong waves and heavy winds, which may have caused it to list dangerously before ultimately sinking.
Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the accident, but early indications point to:
- Rough weather conditions
- Possible overloading
- Potential mechanical failure
Witnesses said the ferry began to tilt sharply before water flooded the lower decks. Within moments, the power went out, and the vessel started sinking rapidly.
As soon as distress signals were received, the Philippine Coast Guard launched an emergency response. Rescue teams deployed dozens of boats and helicopters, supported by navy vessels and local fishermen who rushed to the scene.
So far:
- At least 15 bodies have been recovered
- 50+ survivors have been pulled from the water
- Dozens remain missing, raising fears that the death toll could rise
Rescue crews are using thermal imaging cameras, sonar equipment, and divers to search the surrounding waters and the submerged ferry.
“We are doing everything possible to find survivors,” a coast guard official said. “The search will continue day and night until everyone is accounted for.”
Passengers who survived the ordeal described terrifying moments as the ferry went down.
“There was shouting and screaming everywhere. People were jumping into the sea. Some didn’t even have life jackets,” said one survivor, who managed to cling to a piece of wood for hours before being rescued.
Another survivor recounted how families were separated in the chaos, with parents desperately searching for their children in the dark waters.
“I lost sight of my wife when the ferry tilted. I still don’t know where she is,” a distraught passenger told reporters.
The tragedy has plunged the Philippines into mourning. President and senior government officials expressed condolences to the families of the victims and vowed a full investigation into the disaster.
Flags were flown at half-mast in several coastal communities, while religious groups organized prayer vigils for the dead and missing.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy,” a government spokesperson said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones. We will ensure accountability once the investigation is complete.”
The sinking has once again raised serious questions about maritime safety in the Philippines, an archipelago nation that relies heavily on ferries for transportation between its thousands of islands.
In recent years, several deadly ferry accidents have highlighted issues such as:
- Overcrowding and overloading
- Poor maintenance of vessels
- Inadequate safety inspections
- Weak enforcement of maritime regulations
The Department of Transportation has ordered an immediate probe into the incident. Investigators will examine:
- The ferry’s maintenance records
- Passenger manifests
- Weather reports at the time of departure
- The crew’s actions before and during the accident
Rescue efforts are expected to continue for several days, depending on weather conditions. Authorities have urged families of missing passengers to come forward with information and provide DNA samples to help identify victims.
Emergency shelters have been set up near the port to house survivors and grieving relatives. Counseling services are also being offered to help people cope with the trauma.
Officials warned that the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered and divers search the wreckage.
