At least 18 dead, hundreds rescued after ferry sinks in the Philippines

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines — A ferry carrying more than 350 people sank early Monday off an island in the southern Philippines, leaving at least 18 people dead.

Coast Guard and Navy vessels rescued 316 passengers and crew members near Baluk-baluk Island in Basilan province. Search teams continue to look for approximately two dozen people who remain missing.

The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, a steel-hulled passenger and cargo ferry, reportedly suffered technical issues shortly after midnight. The vessel suddenly tilted to one side and took on water, throwing passengers into the sea in total darkness.

The ferry was traveling from the port city of Zamboanga to Jolo in Sulu province at the time of the accident. It was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it sank about one nautical mile from Baluk-baluk.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the disaster. Coast Guard officials stated the ferry showed no signs of overloading before its departure from Zamboanga.

The sinking of the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 marks the latest tragedy in a chronic cycle of maritime disasters within the Philippines, once again exposing the inherent vulnerabilities of a transport network that serves as a lifeline for millions across the archipelago.

While official investigations are underway, the preliminary indicators—substandard maintenance and lax regulatory enforcement—point to systemic failures that have long plagued the sector. That the vessel was cleared for departure by the Coast Guard, with no immediate evidence of overloading, suggests that the failure is not merely procedural but structural. It highlights a critical deficit in technical inspection standards and the physical seaworthiness of a fleet that has outlived its operational viability.

Invoking the 1987 Doña Paz disaster—the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime catastrophe—is more than a historical comparison; it is an indictment of nearly four decades of regulatory inertia. For a nation where maritime transit is an economic necessity, the persistence of such accidents reflects a failure to translate historical lessons into robust safety protocols.

This incident serves as a stark warning for the broader Southeast Asian region, where similar geographies demand urgent policy intervention. Preventing future loss of life requires more than reactive investigations; it necessitates a comprehensive modernization of aging fleets and a rigorous, non-negotiable enforcement of international maritime safety standards.