A major maritime emergency unfolded in the southern Philippines on Monday when the passenger ferry MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank off the coast of Mindanao island. Philippine Coast Guard authorities confirmed at least 15 fatalities with 28 passengers remaining missing hours after the vessel issued a distress signal at approximately 1:50 AM local time.
The vessel, carrying more than 350 people according to official reports, had departed Zamboanga City port bound for Jolo island approximately four hours prior to the emergency transmission. Rapid response efforts involving multiple agencies have resulted in the successful rescue of 316 individuals from the waters east of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province.
Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua detailed the comprehensive rescue operation, noting that military assets from both the Philippine Navy and Air Force have been deployed to assist in the search mission. Survivors are being transported to coast guard facilities in Zamboanga and Isabela City for medical evaluation and treatment.
Local emergency services reported being overwhelmed by the scale of the incident. Ronalyn Perez, a Basilan emergency responder, described challenges in managing the sudden influx of patients, with at least 18 survivors requiring hospitalization at one medical facility alone.
Disturbing footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard and circulating on social media platforms showed rescue teams extracting survivors from dark waters while voices called for assistance in the background. The coast guard has emphasized that determining the cause of the sinking will require a formal marine casualty investigation, though officials confirmed the vessel was not operating above its capacity.
This tragedy highlights ongoing transportation safety concerns in the Philippine archipelago, where millions depend on inter-island ferry services across the nation’s 7,000-plus islands. The incident follows a similar ferry fire in 2023 that resulted in over 30 fatalities, raising continued questions about maritime safety regulations and enforcement in the region.