Seven Dead, More Than 140 Missing After Passenger Boat Capsizes in Southern Philippines

At least seven people have died and more than a hundred remain missing after a passenger vessel carrying over 300 people capsized off the coast of Basilan in the southern Philippines, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Monday as the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 travelled from Zamboanga to Jolo in Sulu province. Authorities confirmed the vessel had 332 passengers and 27 crew members on board at the time of the accident.

Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua of the Southern Mindanao District told DZBB radio that 215 passengers have been rescued and seven bodies recovered, while search‑and‑rescue operations continue for 144 people still unaccounted for. He added that an investigation is underway to determine what caused the vessel to overturn.

Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman shared video clips from Isabela port on Facebook, showing survivors being assisted off rescue boats some wrapped in thermal blankets, others carried on stretchers for medical attention.

Maritime accidents are tragically common in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands where ferry safety standards have long been a concern. Each year, multiple incidents result in significant loss of life.