On Monday morning, an interisland ferry, the Trisha Kerstin 3, sank near Basilan Province in the Philippines, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and triggering a significant search and rescue operation. The ferry had departed Zamboanga City on Sunday night with 332 passengers and 27 crew members, bound for Jolo, Sulu. It was reportedly within its operational capacity and had passed a pre-departure safety inspection by the Philippine Coast Guard.
The vessel sank around 1:50 AM, approximately three nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island. Passengers noted that conditions were calm at the time of the incident. A distress signal was sent by a sea marshal on board, prompting the swift deployment of the BRP Tubbataha cutter from Zamboanga City, along with assistance from local government and military responders, as well as commercial vessels.
As of Monday, 317 individuals have been rescued, but 28 people remain unaccounted for, according to PCG spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab. Many survivors were taken to a medical center in Basilan for treatment. The cause of the sinking is still under investigation, with a full marine casualty inquiry planned once rescue efforts conclude.
The Philippines relies heavily on maritime transport, leading to frequent incidents due to high traffic and limited regulation. The tragedy echoes past maritime disasters, such as the Dona Paz incident in 1987, which remains the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster, claiming an estimated 4,385 lives.
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