A ferry sank in Mindanao with 359 aboard, resulting in 15 fatalities. Rescue efforts continue for the missing as investigations begin.
A ferry carrying 359 people sank due to a technical failure in the Mindanao region. Initial reports indicate that 15 people lost their lives, while many passengers were rescued.
According to initial reports, 15 people died as a result of the sinking of the ferry carrying 359 people in the Mindanao region of the Philippines.
As reported by national media, the 'M/V Trisha Kerstin 3' ferry, which was operating from the Port of Zamboanga in the Mindanao region to Jolo Island, the capital of the Sulu province of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, sank off the coast of Pilas Island, which is part of the municipality of Hadji Muhtamad.
The Philippine Coast Guard stated that, following the sinking of the ferry carrying a total of 359 people, including 332 passengers and 27 crew members, 15 people were reported to have lost their lives.
The statement noted that search and rescue operations are ongoing, and so far, 316 people have been rescued from the water, while 43 individuals are still missing.
The incident is believed to have occurred due to a technical failure, and an investigation into the matter is underway.
The Philippines, an archipelago nation with a population of approximately 117 million, has experienced numerous ferry accidents in the past that resulted in significant loss of life. In 2023, a fire on a ferry traveling from Zamboanga to the province of Sulu claimed the lives of more than 30 people.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
