Philippines Ferry Capsizes, Killing 7 and Leaving Scores Missing

PHILIPPINES – At least seven people died after a passenger boat carrying more than 300 people capsized off the southern Philippine province of Basilan, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Monday (January 26).

The accident occurred after midnight on Monday as the passenger vessel, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, was en route to Jolo in Sulu province, after departing Zamboanga. The PCG said the vessel had 332 passengers on record and 27 crew.

Philippine Coast Guard chief Ronnie Gavan told reporters in Manila that search and rescue operations are currently ongoing.

Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua of Southern Mindanao District told DZBB radio that 215 people had been rescued and seven bodies recovered, while search and rescue operations continued for 144 others who remained missing. Dua said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the accident.

Scores of people die each year from ferry accidents in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands with a patchy record for maritime safety.