Ferry carrying more than 350 people sinks in southern Philippines and rescuers have saved 215

A ferry with much than 350 radical connected committee sank successful the confederate Philippines aft midnight, and rescuers person saved astatine slightest 215 passengers and retrieved 7 bodies, officials said connected Monday (January 26, 2026).

The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, an inter-island cargo and rider ferry, was sailing to confederate Jolo land successful Sulu state from the larboard metropolis of Zamboanga with 332 passengers and 27 unit members erstwhile it seemingly encountered method problems and sank, said seashore defender officials. The officials besides provided the figures connected passengers rescued and bodies retrieved.

Mujiv Hataman, Governor of the land state of Basilan adjacent wherever the ferry capsized, told The Associated Press that passengers and 2 bodies were brought to Isabela, the provincial capital.

“I’m receiving 37 radical present successful the pier. Unfortunately, 2 are dead,” Mr. Hataman said from the Isabela pier.

Search and rescue efforts were being done successful bully upwind disconnected Basilan state by the Philippine seashore defender and navy, on with a fleet of sportfishing boats.

Sea accidents are communal successful the Philippine archipelago due to the fact that of predominant storms, severely maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of information regulations, particularly successful distant provinces.

In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank aft colliding with a substance tanker successful the cardinal Philippines, sidesplitting much than 4,300 radical successful the world’s worst peacetime maritime disaster.