A passenger ferry carrying over 300 people sank off the coast of Basilan province in the southern Philippines early Monday morning, January 26, 2026, leaving at least 13 dead and over 200 rescued. Search operations remain ongoing for missing passengers, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Local authorities, including Hadji Muhtamad town mayor Arsina Laja Kahing-Nanoh, confirmed casualties through social media updates. The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank near Basilan, a region part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, though the cause of the incident is under investigation.
Maritime accidents remain prevalent in the Philippines due to frequent storms, aging vessels, and overcrowding. This year’s disaster echoes historical tragedies such as the 1987 Dona Paz collision, which claimed over 4,300 lives and remains the world’s deadliest peacetime maritime disaster.
Analysts highlight persistent challenges in enforcing safety regulations across the archipelago’s remote provinces, urging modernization of transport infrastructure to prevent future crises.
