Survivors are spotted near the sinking M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 before rescuers reached the area.
TheMonitorMindanaoToday.com | Ferry Disaster off Basilan Leaves 18 Dead; Search and Rescue Continues
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Rescue operations continued on Monday following the sinking of the roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 off Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan province. The vessel, en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo, Sulu, sank in the early hours of January 26, 2026, prompting a large-scale search and rescue effort involving the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy, armed forces and local vessels.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that at least 18 people have died and 24 remain missing as of the latest updates, while 317 others have been rescued and brought to safety.
Authorities clarified that initial manifest figures showed 332 passengers and 27 crew members on board, but further verification suggested the total on the vessel may have reached 344, including late cancellations and no-shows. The ferry’s maximum capacity was 352, and PCG officials confirmed it was not overloaded at departure.
Survivors recounted how the vessel began listing sharply in the early morning darkness, with many passengers rushed to put on life vests as crew and fellow travelers tried to help one another into the sea and onto life rafts. Some described panic and confusion as the ferry capsized quickly near Basilan’s waters.
Among the confirmed dead is a police officer from the Regional Mobile Division Unit 9, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced, while several police personnel who were aboard were among the rescued.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide immediate assistance to survivors and affected families, while Vice President Sara Duterte extended condolences to the victims’ relatives.
The PCG said it will deploy divers and continue search efforts until those still missing are found, and an investigation into the cause of the sinking will begin once rescue operations are complete.
This tragedy marks another serious maritime accident in the region, raising ongoing concerns about safety and emergency response in inter-island ferry operations.
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