At least 15 people have died and dozens remain missing after a ferry capsized in the southern Philippines early on Monday. The MV Trisha Kerstin was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it sank off Jolo Island in Sulu province.
The vessel sent a distress signal four hours after departing from Zamboanga, having developed technical problems. It capsized at around 1:50am local time, according to coast guard officials. Search and rescue teams, including a coast guard vessel, a surveillance plane, an air force Black Hawk helicopter and fishing boats, were deployed to the area.
Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua said the ferry was operating within its authorised passenger capacity of 352. He added that a safety officer on board alerted authorities and survived. An investigation into the cause of the sinking is under way.
Local media reported that rescue teams initially struggled with the number of passengers, and hospitals were overwhelmed by the influx of survivors. Mujiv Hataman, governor of Basilan province, said most survivors were doing well, but several elderly passengers required emergency medical attention.
Ferry accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands where boats are a primary mode of transport. The country has seen several deadly maritime disasters, including the 1987 Doña Paz sinking, which killed over 4,300 people.
