Metro Manila, Philippines – The death toll after a passenger vessel sank off Basilan on early Monday morning, Jan. 26, climbed to 18 as responders continued search and rescue operations for two dozen people still missing, the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao said.
As of 11 a.m. on Monday, the Coast Guard said 317 passengers of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 have been rescued.
It responded to a distress call at 1:50 a.m. on Monday, when the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 reportedly went down at around 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island.
The ferry, carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members, departed the Port of Zamboanga City at around 9:20 p.m. on Sunday and was bound for Jolo, Sulu.
The Coast Guard noted the vessel was not overloaded and was within its authorized maximum capacity of 352 passengers.
More than 200 rescued passengers covered with thermal blankets, while others were transported via stretchers, have been brought to Isabela City port.
Some of the survivors want the capsizing of the vessel to be investigated.
“Sana imbestigahan, di naman masama ang panahon bakit lumubog nang walang bagyo o kuwan,” survivor Jun Guro said, in a video posted by Isabela city government.
[Translation: I hope this will be investigated. The weather was fine, there was no storm, why did the vessel sink?]
All of the search and rescue assets from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Navy, the maritime police, and the local governments of Zamboanga and Basilan were involved in the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Ship owner Aleson Shipping Lines Inc. said it immediately activated quick response measures, deployed all available vessels in the area, and worked in close coordination with authorities.
“Our thoughts and hearts are with everyone who was on board and with their families during this extremely difficult time,” the company said.
Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide aid to affected passengers of the maritime incident.
