- The Coast Guard rescues 316 people, 28 are still missing.
- The investigation into the cause of the ferry sinking begins.
- Military deployed to assist in rescue operations.
The death toll from a ferry accident in the southern Philippines has reached at least 15, with 316 people rescued, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Monday as the search continued for the dozens still missing.
The accident occurred at 01:50 am. [1750 GMT] on Monday, as the passenger ship, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, was heading to Jolo in Sulu province after setting sail from Zamboanga. The PCG said the ship, which was operating within its authorized passenger capacity of 352, had 332 passengers on board and 27 crew members.
Search and rescue teams scouring the area in relatively calm waters have helped speed up operations, Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua of the southern Mindanao district said by phone. He said 28 are still missing.
Dua said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the accident. Military aircraft and vessels have been deployed to assist in rescue efforts, Dua added.
Mujiv Hataman, governor of the island province of Basilan, shared on Facebook clips from the scene in Mindanao’s Isabela port, showing survivors being carried off ships, some wrapped in thermal blankets and others carried on stretchers.
Hataman told DZBB radio that most survivors were fine, but several elderly passengers needed emergency medical care. He added that authorities were still verifying the passenger manifest as rescue efforts progressed.
Dozens of people die each year in ferry accidents in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands with a spotty record on maritime safety.
