At least 13 killed after ferry carrying hundreds sinks off Basilan in southern Philippines
At least 13 people have died after a ferry carrying more than 350 passengers and crew sank off Basilan in the southern Philippines on 26 January 2026, prompting large-scale rescue operations by coast guard and military units.
- A passenger ferry sank off Basilan in the early hours of 26 January 2026, killing at least 13 people.
- The vessel, M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, was carrying more than 350 passengers and crew en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo.
- Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, involving multiple government agencies and commercial vessels.
A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people sank in the southern Philippines on the morning of 26 January 2026, leaving at least 13 people dead, according to local media reports and government statements.
The incident involved the passenger-cargo vessel M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, operated by Aleson Shipping, which was travelling from Zamboanga City to Jolo, Sulu, when it submerged at around 1:50am.
The sinking occurred approximately 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island, off Basilan, an area frequently used by ferries serving communities in the Sulu archipelago.
Confirmation of the incident was first made public through a Facebook post by Arsina Laja Kahing-Nanoh, the mayor of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan, who also shared an initial list of survivors in a separate post.
According to the Philippines Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM), the vessel was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members at the time of the incident, based on initial information provided to authorities.
The coast guard said the ferry departed the Port of Zamboanga City at around 9:20pm on 25 January 2026 and was operating within its authorised maximum passenger capacity of 352.
In a Facebook post issued on the morning of 26 January, the CGDSWM said it was responding to a maritime incident involving the vessel after receiving a distress call from the Philippine Coast Guard sea marshal onboard.
Following the alert, CGDSWM immediately deployed BRP Tubbataha (MRRV-4401) from Zamboanga City to assist in search and rescue operations, according to the same statement.
Rescue efforts were quickly reinforced by commercial vessels in the area, as well as units from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, other concerned government agencies, and local government units.
Authorities said coordination efforts were focused on locating survivors, providing medical assistance, and accounting for all passengers and crew members listed on the vessel’s manifest.
As of the latest update, the coast guard reported that no oil spill had been observed at the site of the sinking, reducing immediate concerns about environmental damage.
The cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed, and authorities said a full investigation would be conducted once rescue operations are completed and conditions permit.
Maritime safety remains a persistent concern in the Philippines, an archipelago nation of about 116 million people that relies heavily on ferries to connect its thousands of islands.
The country has a long history of deadly ferry accidents, often linked to rough seas, ageing vessels, and lapses in safety enforcement, according to previous government and media reports.
In 2023, more than 30 people were killed when a fire tore through a ferry in the southern Philippines, highlighting ongoing risks faced by passengers using inter-island transport.
