Ferry sinks near Basilan in southern Philippines; at least 15 dead, 28 missing

At least 15 people have died after a ferry with more than 350 people sank early on Monday near an island in the southern Philippines, according to local officials, with the coast guard warning that 28 people remained missing. The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, an inter-island cargo and passenger ferry, was sailing to southern Jolo island in Sulu province from the port city of Zamboanga with 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it apparently encountered technical problems and sank after midnight, coast guard officials said.

The ferry sank in good weather about a nautical mile (1.8km) from the island village of Baluk-baluk in Basilan province, where many of the survivors were initially taken, coast guard commander Romel Dua told The Associated Press. "There was a coast guard safety officer on board and he was the first to call and alert us to deploy rescue vessels," Dua said, adding that the safety officer survived.

Coast guard and navy ships, along with a surveillance plane, an air force Black Hawk helicopter and fleets of fishing boats were carrying out search and rescue operations off Basilan, Dua said. Mujiv Hataman, Basilan provincial governor, said several passengers and two bodies were brought to Isabela; "I’m receiving 37 people here in the pier.

Unfortunately two are dead," Hataman told the Associated Press. The coast guard said 316 passengers had been rescued and at least 15 bodies found.

Key Topics

World, Basilan, Baluk-baluk, Jolo Island, Zamboanga, Coast Guard