A new maritime tragedy has struck the archipelago of the Philippines. According to the latest official report, fifteen bodies have been recovered, and rescue operations continue in a race against time to find the missing. The vessel, identified as the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, was sailing from the port city of Zamboanga to the island of Jolo in the province of Sulu when it apparently suffered technical failures that caused it to capsize near the province of Basilan.
Details of the Sinking The incident occurred shortly after midnight, catching many passengers as they slept. The Coast Guard authorities reported that the ship's manifest listed 332 passengers and 27 crew members.
Rescued: So far, at least 215 people have been brought to safety thanks to the intervention of naval vessels, the Coast Guard, and a fleet of local fishing boats that answered the distress call.
Victims: The governor of Basilan, Mujiv Hataman, confirmed that the recovered bodies have been transported to the provincial capital, Isabela.
Conditions: Unlike other maritime disasters in the region caused by typhoons, this sinking occurred in relatively stable weather conditions, which reinforces the hypothesis of a technical problem or structural failure of the hull. Authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine if the ferry had all its permits in order and if there was negligence by the operating company in allowing it to set sail after the first signs of technical failures were detected.