Photo courtesy of City Government of Isabela de Basilan/Facebook.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the roll-on/roll-off vessel MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was operating within its allowed passenger limit before it went down off Basilan.
Coast Guard records showed the ship was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it left Zamboanga City on Sunday night, a figure below its authorized capacity of 352 passengers.
The vessel later sank roughly 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island, triggering rescue and recovery operations in nearby waters.
Initial reports from the Basilan provincial government indicated that 223 passengers were rescued and transported to Isabela City shortly after the incident.
Of those who survived, 23 were taken to the Basilan Medical Center to receive medical care for various injuries and conditions.
Authorities confirmed fatalities, with at least eight passengers reported dead as of the latest count, while verification efforts continued.
The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 had departed the Port of Zamboanga City at around 9:20 p.m. on Jan. 25 and was bound for Jolo when the incident occurred.