Manila, Jan 26 (V7N) — A ferry carrying more than 350 passengers sank in the southern Philippine province of Basilan, leaving at least 15 people dead and 43 others missing, according to AFP.

The incident occurred around midnight local time on Monday (January 26). The ferry, named Trisha Kerstin 3, was traveling from Zamboanga City to the island of Jolo in the neighboring Mindanao province when it sank shortly after departing.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the vessel was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members at the time of the accident. Preliminary assessments suggest the ferry may have suffered a mechanical failure, as weather conditions were not severe when the incident occurred.

Rescue operations are ongoing, involving fishing boats, naval vessels, surveillance aircraft, and helicopters.

Ronalin Perez, spokesperson for the disaster management department’s rescue team, said that 138 people have been rescued alive so far, with 18 of them currently receiving treatment in hospitals.

The Philippines, an archipelagic nation, relies heavily on cargo and passenger ferries for transportation between its many islands. As a result, maritime accidents are relatively common.

In 2023, a ferry fire in the southern Philippines killed 30 people. One of the deadliest maritime disasters in history occurred in December 1987, when the ferry Dona Paz collided with an oil tanker in the central Philippines, killing more than 4,300 people.

END/SMA/AJ