Chaos in the Dark: Hundreds Rescued as Ferry with Over 350 Onboard Goes Down in Southern Philippines

A routine night voyage turned into tragedy after a passenger ferry carrying more than 350 people sank in rough seas off the southern Philippines. At least 15 people were confirmed dead, while dozens were still missing as rescue efforts continued.

The ferry, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, sent a distress signal at around 1:50 am. This was just over four hours after it had left Zamboanga City in Mindanao. It was heading to Jolo Island in the Sulu archipelago. Soon after the alert, the vessel went down about five kilometres east of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province.

Rescue teams responded quickly. The Philippine Coast Guard said at least 316 passengers were rescued alive. However, 28 people were still unaccounted for. Coast guard commander Romel Dua said the search operation was ongoing and involved multiple agencies.

The Navy and Air Force deployed ships and aircraft to help. A coast guard plane was also sent to scan the area. Still, bad weather slowed down the mission. Strong waves and poor visibility made it harder to locate survivors.

Survivors said the sea was already rough before the ferry sank. Some reported hearing panic on board as water began entering the vessel. Others said the ferry tilted before finally going under.

At the same time, hospitals struggled to handle the number of victims. Basilan emergency responder Ronalyn Perez said medical teams were overwhelmed. At least 18 survivors were admitted to one hospital alone. Many suffered from shock, breathing problems, and minor injuries.

Video released by the coast guard showed passengers being pulled from the water and treated on rescue boats. In other videos shared on social media, survivors could be heard shouting for help in the darkness as waves crashed around them.

So far, the cause of the sinking remains unknown. Dua said authorities had launched a marine casualty investigation. He added that the focus was still on rescue, not blame. The coast guard also said early reports suggested the ferry was not overloaded.

The incident has once again raised questions about ferry safety in the Philippines. The country has more than 7,000 islands. Millions depend on sea transport every day. Many vessels are old. Some are poorly maintained. Regulation is often weak.

Deadly ferry accidents are not new in the country. In 2023, more than 30 people died after a ferry caught fire. In 2015, a vessel capsized off Leyte and killed over 60 people. The worst tragedy happened in 1987, when the Dona Paz collided with an oil tanker. More than 4,000 people died.

As search operations continue, families wait in fear and hope. Many are still praying that their loved ones will be found alive.