A maritime disaster occurred in the early hours of January 26 when the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, a roll-on-roll-off ship, foundered whilst travelling towards Jolo, Sulu, Philstar Global reports. The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that the vessel, which left Zamboanga City at 9:20 pm on January 25, broadcast an emergency call at approximately 1:50 am near Baluk-Baluk Island.

This tragedy highlights the ongoing safety risks in the Philippine maritime sector, where inter-island transit remains vulnerable to frequent and often fatal accidents.

Current data indicates that 15 individuals have perished, whilst 28 remain unaccounted for. Out of roughly 350 people on board, including 27 staff, 316 have been rescued. Local medical facilities are currently overwhelmed; emergency responders in Basilan noted a critical shortage of personnel as 23 survivors required urgent hospitalisation at the Basilan Medical Centre. Meanwhile, 223 others were processed at Isabela City Port.

The military has deployed aerial assets and naval ships to bolster the search. Although the cause of the submergence is currently unidentified, authorities noted the ship was not exceeding its legal weight limit. Furthermore, no environmental damage from fuel leaks has been detected.

The Philippines remains prone to such nautical catastrophes due to its vast geography and reliance on sea transit. As the investigation into the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 begins, the immediate priority remains the recovery of those still missing in the waters off Mindanao.