A ferry carrying more than 350 passengers sank in rough seas off the southern Philippines early Monday, leaving at least 18 people dead and 24 still missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The vessel, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, sent out a distress signal at around 1:50 am, roughly four hours after leaving Zamboanga City port in Mindanao. The ferry was travelling toward Basilan province when it went down in choppy waters.
Footage released by the Basilan provincial governor showed survivors barefoot and shaken as rescue workers wrapped them in blankets and placed them on stretchers. Other videos showed bodies being carried away in black body bags.
The three-deck ferry sank along a route that has seen previous tragedy. In 2023, 31 people lost their lives after a fire broke out on the Lady Mary Joy 3 ferry, which followed a similar path. Both vessels were operated by Aleson Shipping Lines, a company based in the region.
As of the latest update, at least 317 people have been rescued. Search and rescue teams are still working to locate the 24 passengers who remain unaccounted for. Among the victims recovered was an infant, according to images shared by authorities.
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