Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Philippine Ferry Sinks Off Basilan With 316 Rescued, At Least 15 Dead

Authorities opened an inquiry into an apparent technical failure after a Coast Guard inspection cleared the vessel to depart with no signs of overloading.

Overview

  • Rescue and recovery continue with officials reporting at least 316 people saved and at least 15 to 18 confirmed dead, with dozens still unaccounted for.
  • The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 went down after midnight about one nautical mile off Baluk-baluk islet in Basilan during a voyage from Zamboanga to Jolo.
  • The ferry carried 332 passengers and 27 crew, according to the Philippine Coast Guard and local officials.
  • Search efforts involve Coast Guard and Navy vessels, an Air Force Black Hawk helicopter, surveillance aircraft, and local fishing boats, with survivors taken to Isabela in Basilan.
  • Investigators are examining the vessel’s technical condition and manifest after officials said it was authorized to sail, reflecting ongoing concerns over maritime safety in the Philippines.