A tragic incident unfolded in the waters of the southern Philippines as a ferry, the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, sank with more than 350 passengers onboard. The vessel was en route from Zamboanga to Jolo island when it encountered technical issues and went down, resulting in the loss of 15 lives.
The ferry, which served as both a cargo and passenger ship, sent out a distress signal around midnight local time while navigating from Mindanao to Jolo island. The sinking occurred in favorable weather conditions close to Baluk-baluk village in Basilan province, approximately two kilometers from shore.
Following the distress call, a coast guard safety officer onboard alerted rescue teams, leading to the successful retrieval of over 300 passengers. Survivors recounted the harrowing experience of the ferry tilting and taking on water, causing chaos as people were thrown into the dark sea. Tragically, some, like Mohamad Khan and his family, did not survive the ordeal.
Rescue efforts involving coast guard, navy ships, aircraft, and fishing vessels were launched to locate missing passengers and provide assistance. As the situation unfolded, Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman reported the reception of survivors at the pier, with a few casualties.
The authorities are investigating the cause of the ferry sinking, with initial assessments ruling out overloading as a contributing factor. The coast guard had cleared the ferry for departure from Zamboanga, raising questions about the incident’s root cause.