The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy divers on Tuesday to search for the remaining missing passengers after a ferry carrying over 300 people capsized en route to Sulu province. At least 18 people have died in the incident.
The ferry, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, sank shortly after midnight on Monday while traveling from Zamboanga to Jolo. Authorities confirmed that 316 passengers have been rescued, and 10 remain missing.
The Department of Transportation has suspended the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping, the operator of the sunken vessel. The company has a record of 32 maritime accidents, raising safety concerns.
Captain Noemie Cayabyab, a PCG spokesperson, said the total number of passengers on board has been revised to 344 after verifying that 15 people listed on the manifest did not board. The ferry’s authorized capacity is 352.
The cause of the sinking is still under investigation, and officials have not yet concluded. The PCG emphasized that safety assessments and rescue operations remain ongoing.
Aleson Shipping operates a network of inter-island routes across Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Maritime accidents are common in the Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands with a history of uneven maritime safety standards.
Divers will focus on locating the missing passengers and securing the vessel for investigation. Authorities urge caution and patience as rescue and recovery operations continue in challenging conditions.
The incident highlights the ongoing concerns over ferry safety in the Philippines and the need for strict enforcement of maritime regulations to prevent future tragedies.
