The inter-island passenger ferry MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank off Basilan in the southern Philippines during the overnight crossing from Zamboanga City to Jolo (Sulu), triggering a large-scale search-and-rescue response led by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
PCG reporting states the ferry carried 332 passengers and 27 crew at departure, and that the vessel had been cleared to sail within its authorised limits. The ferry issued a distress call shortly after midnight and went down in waters near Baluk-Baluk Island off Basilan.
Latest confirmed casualty and rescue figures
Authorities have confirmed hundreds rescued. As of the latest PCG updates carried by major media, at least 15 fatalities were confirmed with 316 rescued and 28 unaccounted for, while later updates from other outlets reported the toll rising to 18 dead with 24 missing as passenger manifests were reconciled.
Rescue operations involved Coast Guard and Navy vessels, local boats, and aerial assets, with survivors transferred to ports in Basilan and the Zamboanga area for triage and onward medical care.
Maritime context
Philippine domestic ferry routes remain high-consequence operations: large passenger loads, night transits, and rapid casualty escalation once stability is lost. Authorities have opened a marine casualty investigation to establish the sequence of events, including weather and mechanical factors reported by survivors, while continuing search efforts for those still missing.
Leave a Reply