At least 18 people have died after a ferry carrying more than 350 passengers and crew members onboard sank in the waters off the Philippines' southern coast.
Search crews have rescued 317 individuals from the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, but 24 others are still missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The ship, both a cargo and passenger ferry, was en route from Mindanao to Jolo island when it issued a distress call at 1:50 local time on Monday (17:50 GMT Sunday).
Authorities are investigating the cause of the sinking. The Philippines, an archipelago nation of 7,100 islands, has a troubling history of maritime disasters involving inter-island ferries.
According to Philippine Coast Guard spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab, Based on the account of some survivors, the waters in the area were rough at the time, as reported in an AFP interview.
Videos shared by the disaster management office show distressed passengers in life vests awaiting rescue.
Ronalyn Perez, a Basilan emergency responder, remarked, The challenge really is the number of patients that are coming in. We are short-staffed at the moment.\
The Philippines has experienced numerous maritime accidents attributed to poor maintenance and overloading. Despite safety concerns, many citizens still rely on ferries due to their affordability.
In 2023, 28 people lost their lives after a passenger ferry caught fire, marking one of the many tragic incidents in recent years.
