World News
Philippines ferry tragedy: 15 dead, over 300 rescued after vessel sinks near Basilan
At least 15 people were killed and more than 300 passengers rescued after an inter-island ferry carrying over 350 people sank early Monday near Basilan island in the southern Philippines, officials said.
At least 15 people were killed and more than 300 passengers rescued after an inter-island ferry carrying over 350 people sank early Monday near Basilan island in the southern Philippines, officials said.
The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, a cargo and passenger vessel, was travelling from Zamboanga City to Jolo in Sulu province with 332 passengers and 27 crew members on board when it reportedly developed technical problems and went down shortly after midnight.
According to Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua, the ferry sank in calm weather about one nautical mile (nearly 2 km) off the island village of Baluk-baluk in Basilan province.
“There was a coast guard safety officer on board, and he was the first to alert us, allowing rescue vessels to be deployed immediately,” Dua said, adding that the officer survived.
Rescue teams comprising coast guard and navy ships, fishing boats, a surveillance plane, and an air force Black Hawk helicopter launched a large-scale search and rescue operation.
Officials confirmed that 316 passengers have been rescued so far, while 15 bodies have been recovered. Several survivors and victims were transported to Isabela city, the provincial capital.
Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman said emergency teams were stationed at the pier to receive survivors. “We’re assisting dozens of passengers here. Unfortunately, some did not survive,” he said.
Survivors described moments of panic as the ferry suddenly tilted and began taking in water. Passenger Mohamad Khan said he, his wife and their six-month-old baby were thrown into the sea in the darkness.
“My wife lost hold of our baby, and we were separated in the water,” he said. The couple survived, but their infant drowned.
Authorities said the exact cause of the sinking remains under investigation. The coast guard noted that the vessel had passed safety checks before departure and showed no signs of overloading.
Sea accidents are frequent in the Philippines — an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands — due to storms, ageing vessels, overcrowding and weak enforcement of safety standards, particularly in remote areas.
The country witnessed one of the world’s worst maritime disasters in 1987, when the ferry Dona Paz collided with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people.
Search operations for the missing passengers were continuing at the time of filing this report.
