At least 18 people have died after a ferry carrying more than 350 passengers and crew members onboard sank in the waters off the southern coast of the Philippines.
Search crews have rescued 317 people on board the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, but at least 24 people are still missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The ship, a combination cargo and passenger ferry, was traveling from Mindanao to Jolo Island when it issued a distress call on Monday at 1:50 local time (17:50 GMT Sunday).
Authorities are investigating the cause of the sinking, as the Philippines, an archipelago nation of 7,100 islands, has a long history of maritime disasters involving inter-island ferries.
Based on the account of some survivors, the waters in the area were rough at the time, Philippine Coast Guard spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab stated in a televised interview.
Videos shared by the disaster management office showed survivors awaiting rescue in life vests. Rescuers have faced challenges due to the high volume of incoming survivors, with reports of over 100 calls from worried family members.
Previous ferry accidents in the Philippines have been attributed to poor maintenance and overloading, prompting many Filipinos to risk sea travel for its affordability. The disaster highlights ongoing safety concerns in the country’s maritime transport sector.
