The death toll from the sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 has risen to 29 after search teams recovered 11 more bodies near Baluk-Baluk Island, Philippine Coast Guard officials said on Thursday. The ferry capsized in the early hours of Monday, 26 January, triggering one of the toughest regulatory crackdowns on a domestic shipping operator in recent years.
Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez ordered the immediate grounding of the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, the vessel’s owner, citing 32 safety incidents involving the company since 2019. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also directed a full investigation into the disaster.
The roll-on/roll-off ferry left Zamboanga City at 21:20 on Sunday bound for Jolo, carrying 314 passengers and 27 crew. About four hours into the voyage, strong waves flooded the lower deck, snapping vehicle restraints and causing cars to shift. The vessel listed sharply, capsized and sank roughly 2.75 nautical miles from Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province, coming to rest in 76 metres of water.
A large-scale night-time rescue involving coastguard, navy and air force units, commercial vessels and local fishing boats saved 316 people. Survivors said they were thrown into the sea without warning as the ship rolled. A passenger said no alarm was raised by the crew before a loud snap was heard and the ferry went down.
Authorities said the recovery of more bodies than initially reported missing suggests early passenger counts may have been incomplete. Children are among the confirmed dead.
The suspension of Aleson’s fleet has disrupted travel between Zamboanga City and nearby island provinces, with long queues forming for alternative operators. Local officials have backed the move despite the inconvenience, while regulators have invited other companies to fill the gap and allowed more flexible sailing schedules. The coastguard has pledged to help ferry stranded passengers during the suspension.
The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of ferry safety in the Philippines, particularly as it is the second fatal Aleson disaster on almost the same route in less than three years. In March 2023, a fire aboard the MV Lady Mary Joy 3 killed 29 people near the same island.
Investigators will examine vehicle securing procedures, crew training, emergency protocols and the accuracy of passenger manifests, alongside a broader audit of the country’s domestic passenger fleet.
For the families of those killed, the government has promised financial assistance and faster insurance claims, as the nation once again confronts deep-seated safety failures in its vital inter-island ferry network.