Death toll reaches 18 after ferry sinks off southern Philippines; 10 missing

At least 18 people have been confirmed dead and 10 others remain missing after a passenger ferry sank off the southern Philippines, authorities said.

The ferry, identified as the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, sank around 1 a.m. local time on Monday near Baluk-Baluk Island off Basilan while en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo, officials said. The vessel sent a distress call shortly before going down.

Officials said data showed the ferry was carrying 344 people when it departed the port of Zamboanga City, including 317 passengers, 26 crew members and one sea marshal, correcting earlier figures based on the manifest.

Authorities said 18 people have been confirmed dead and 10 others remain missing, according to the Philippine News Agency. Of those still missing, eight are crew members, including the vessel’s sea marshal.

Officials said at least 316 passengers and crew members have been accounted for. All of the confirmed dead are passengers, and no crew members have been reported among the fatalities.

Search and rescue operations have been ongoing since the sinking, with authorities continuing to search the area for those still missing. The cause of the incident has not been determined.