A passenger and cargo ferry carrying over 350 individuals capsized in the early hours of Monday near an island in the southern Philippines, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 18 individuals, according to authorities. The vessel, identified as M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, was en route from Zamboanga to southern Jolo island with 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it reportedly experienced technical difficulties and sank. The incident occurred in favorable weather conditions approximately a nautical mile from Baluk-baluk village in Basilan province.
The coast guard swiftly initiated rescue operations upon receiving the alert from a safety officer onboard the ferry, who survived the ordeal. As a result, over 300 passengers and crew members were rescued, while 18 bodies were recovered. Search efforts involving coast guard, navy ships, a surveillance plane, an air force Black Hawk helicopter, and fishing vessels were conducted to locate the remaining missing individuals off Basilan.
One survivor, Mohamad Khan, recounted the harrowing experience of the ferry tilting suddenly, causing passengers to be thrown into the sea. Tragically, Khan and his wife lost their six-month-old baby during the chaos. The search and rescue mission was personally significant for volunteer rescuer Gamar Alih, a village councillor from Zamboanga, who aided in the operation due to having relatives on board the ferry, all of whom survived.
The cause of the ferry sinking remains unclear, prompting an investigation by authorities. Despite no signs of overloading and clearance from the port, maritime accidents are not uncommon in the Philippines due to various factors such as severe weather conditions, vessel maintenance issues, overcrowding, and lax safety enforcement, particularly in remote regions.
In a separate incident in December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz tragically collided with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, leading to the loss of over 4,300 lives in one of the deadliest maritime disasters during peacetime in history. Governor Mujiv Hataman of Basilan confirmed the arrival of survivors and casualties at the provincial capital, Isabela, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced in ensuring maritime safety in the archipelago.