Authorities have confirmed that a ferry carrying over 350 passengers sank off Basilan province in the southern Philippines, resulting in at least 18 fatalities, with 24 persons still unaccounted for.
The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 began sinking just after midnight on January 26, about one nautical mile from Basilan. The Philippine Coast Guard reported that the vessel was on its way from Zamboanga City to Jolo Island carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it encountered technical issues and sank.
More than 300 individuals were successfully rescued from the water in a significant operation involving coast guard ships and local fishing vessels. A total of 18 bodies have been retrieved thus far as search operations persist for those still missing.
A coast guard official confirmed that the ferry had experienced technical issues before sinking, stating, “We immediately deployed rescue vessels to the area.”
The survivors and the recovered bodies were brought to local ports in Basilan province. A large number of the survivors were initially taken to the village of Baluk-baluk in Basilan, which is situated near the area where the ferry sank.
Emergency responders reported a significant strain on local medical facilities due to the simultaneous arrival of a large number of patients, which overwhelmed the available healthcare staff and resources.
Footage was shared on Facebook by Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman from the scene at Isabela port in Mindanao, depicting survivors being assisted off boats, some swathed in thermal blankets, while others were transported on stretchers.
The cause of the sinking is still under investigation. Coast guard officials stated there was no evidence of overloading, and the vessel had been cleared for departure from Zamboanga port prior to the incident. The ferry reportedly had technical problems under what were described as favorable weather conditions.
The Philippines, an archipelago nation, heavily depends on maritime transportation for inter-island travel and commerce. Ferry services connect communities across these scattered islands, proving vital for residents in secluded areas where air travel may be too costly or inaccessible.
Maritime accidents are unfortunately frequent in the Philippines due to various factors, including tropical storms, aging ship fleets, overcrowding on popular routes, and inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations. The geographical challenges of operating in an archipelago create unique risks for maritime operations, especially during monsoon seasons when weather conditions can change abruptly.
This incident transpired off Basilan in the southern Philippines. The route from Zamboanga City to Jolo Island is a commonly traveled pathway connecting the major port city on Mindanao with communities in the region.
Search and rescue operations in the Philippines typically involve collaboration between multiple agencies, including the coast guard and local government units. The prompt response in this case likely contributed to the large number of survivors rescued from the water.
Authorities confirmed, “We are continuing search operations for the missing passengers. Our priority is to locate any remaining survivors.”
The Philippines has previously experienced severe maritime disasters. Following major incidents, the Philippine authorities have intermittently implemented reforms aimed at enhancing maritime safety standards. These reforms encompass more stringent vessel inspections, updated safety equipment requirements, and improved training standards for crew members. Nonetheless, the vast scale of maritime operations, coupled with economic pressures on shipping operators, continues to pose enforcement challenges.
On Friday, January 23, at least two Filipino crew members were confirmed dead and 15 others rescued after a cargo ship registered in Singapore and traveling from Mindanao to China sank. Four additional sailors are still missing.
Just on the previous Monday, January 19, another privately-owned vessel sank off the Davao region in Mindanao, resulting in at least six deaths and nine missing individuals.
In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz collided with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines and sank, causing the loss of more than 4,300 lives in what is still the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history.
Coast Guard officials have ordered a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the cause of the vessel’s sinking. The occurrence of the incident under relatively good weather conditions, as opposed to during a storm, implies that mechanical or structural issues may have been a primary factor, although investigators have not dismissed other potential contributing factors.
As rescue operations persist, authorities remain hopeful that more survivors might be found. However, the number of missing persons raises concerns about the final death toll. The people still unaccounted for are the urgent focus of search teams combing the waters around the accident site.
