Photo courtesy of Provincial Government of Basilan.
At least 18 people, including a six-month-old infant, were killed after a passenger ferry bound for Jolo, Sulu sank in waters off Basilan before dawn on Monday, while more than 300 others were pulled to safety, authorities said.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that 317 passengers and crew members were rescued from M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, which departed Zamboanga City on Sunday night and encountered trouble several hours into its voyage.
According to Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, the vessel sent a distress signal shortly after midnight, citing mechanical difficulties as rough seas battered the ship near Baluk-Baluk Island.
The ferry eventually went under around five kilometers northeast of the island, prompting an immediate response from Coast Guard units, local government rescuers, and nearby commercial vessels.
Officials said the roll-on/roll-off vessel was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members, figures that remained within its authorized capacity, countering earlier claims that it had been overloaded.
Search and rescue teams continued combing the area as of Monday evening, with 24 individuals still listed as missing. The identities of the fatalities were withheld pending notification of families.
Survivors were brought to ports in Basilan and Zamboanga City, where medical teams attended to those needing treatment. The Basilan Medical Center confirmed that several rescued passengers were admitted for further evaluation.
Local officials said residents of Baluk-Baluk Island were among the first to respond, deploying small boats to retrieve passengers before turning them over to Coast Guard personnel.
Authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the sinking, gathering statements from survivors and reviewing vessel records to determine whether safety protocols were followed.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to extend immediate assistance to affected families, while the Coast Guard set up an information desk in Sulu to handle inquiries related to the incident.