A major maritime tragedy struck the southern Philippines on Monday when the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank in the early hours, resulting in 15 confirmed fatalities and 28 individuals remaining unaccounted for. The vessel, carrying more than 350 passengers and crew, issued a distress signal at approximately 1:50 AM local time (1750 GMT Sunday) while navigating waters near Baluk-Baluk Island in the Basilan province chain.
According to Philippine Coast Guard reports, the ferry had departed Zamboanga City on Mindanao’s southwestern tip approximately four hours prior to the emergency alert. Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua confirmed that 316 people have been successfully rescued from the waters east of the Zamboanga peninsula, approximately five kilometers from Baluk-Baluk Island.
Rescue operations faced significant challenges due to the remote location and limited resources. Emergency responder Ronalyn Perez from Basilan reported that local hospitals were overwhelmed by the sudden influx of patients, creating critical staffing shortages. At least 18 survivors required immediate medical attention at one facility.
Multipronged rescue efforts involving the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force assets were deployed to the area. Aerial support was dispatched to assist in the ongoing search operations. Survivors were being transported to coast guard stations in Zamboanga and Isabela City for processing and medical care.
Disturbing footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard depicted rescue teams extracting survivors from the water and administering urgent medical treatment. Social media broadcasts captured harrowing audio of passengers shouting for assistance in the darkness.
The coast guard emphasized that initial investigations indicate the vessel was not operating beyond its capacity limits. A formal marine casualty investigation has been initiated to determine the precise cause of the sinking, though rescue priorities currently take precedence over determining causation.
This incident highlights ongoing maritime safety concerns in the Philippine archipelago, where millions depend on inter-island ferry services for transportation across the nation’s 7,000+ islands. The region has experienced numerous similar tragedies, including a 2023 ferry fire that claimed over 30 lives in southern Philippine waters.