The passenger vessel MV Trisha Kerstin 3 issued a distress signal at 1:50 a.m.in the southern Philippine, four hours into its voyage from Zamboanga to Jolo Island, according to AFP.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local authorities immediately launched a rescue operation, saving 317 people so far. The vessel sank five kilometers east of Baluk-Baluk Island.
While the cause is under investigation, PCG spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab cited survivor accounts of rough waters, though officials confirmed the ferry was not overloaded.
Rescuers are racing to locate the missing, but local services are overwhelmed. Basilan responder Ronalyn Perez admitted they are short-staffed, while Sheryl Balondo in Isabela City reported receiving over 100 calls from worried families.
Read more: Hong Kong ferry disaster ruled ‘unlawful killing’ after 13 years
“There’s a tug in our hearts whenever we pick up a call,” Balondo said, noting they cannot yet provide a final survivor list.
Video footage showed survivors wrapped in blankets while victims were carried in body bags. The vessel’s owner, Aleson Shipping Lines, expressed condolences and stated they are coordinating closely with authorities.
The incident underscores maritime safety challenges in the Philippines; the ferry sank on nearly the same route where another Aleson vessel caught fire in 2023, killing 31.
