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13 Dead, 100+ Missing as Ferry Sinks in Southern Philippines

A ferry carrying more than 300 passengers and crew sank in the waters off Basilan province in the southern Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard reported 13 fatalities and the rescue of 244 individuals, with over 100 people still missing. Search and rescue operations involving aircraft and sea vessels are ongoing amid rough sea conditions. The cause of the sinking is under investigation, with authorities noting the vessel was cleared for departure and showed no signs of overloading.

Key Points: Ferry Sinks in Philippines: 13 Dead, Over 100 Missing

  • Ferry sank off Basilan province
  • 13 bodies recovered, 100+ missing
  • 244 passengers rescued so far
  • Cause under investigation, no sign of overloading
2 min read

13 dead, over 100 missing after ferry sinks in Philippines

A ferry carrying over 300 people sank near Basilan province. 13 bodies recovered, 244 rescued, and over 100 missing as search operations continue.

"Search and rescue operations were ongoing, with aircraft and sea assets deployed to scour the area amid rough sea conditions. - Authorities"

Manila, Jan 26

At least 13 bodies were recovered and more than 100 people remained missing after an inter-island ferry carrying more than 300 passengers and crew sank early Monday morning in waters off Basilan province in the southern Philippines, authorities said.

The Philippine Coast Guard in Southwestern Mindanao said the ferry was en route to Jolo Island in Sulu province from Zamboanga City when it went down near Balukbaluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad, a municipality in Basilan province, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rescue teams pulled at least 13 bodies from the water as of early Monday, while dozens of survivors were rescued by Coast Guard units, navy vessels, and nearby fishing boats, officials said.

The coast guard said that 244 passengers had been rescued and 13 bodies found.

The cause of the ferry sinking was not immediately clear and there will be an investigation. The coast guard cleared the ferry before it left the Zamboanga port and there was no sign of overloading.

The exact number of survivors was still being verified.

Search and rescue operations were ongoing, with aircraft and sea assets deployed to scour the area amid rough sea conditions.

Authorities said the cause of the sinking was still under investigation.

Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, badly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.

Long ago in December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker in the central Philippines, which killed more than 4,300 people in the world's worst peacetime maritime disaster.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Very sad. Reading about the 1987 disaster puts this into perspective. Over 4300 people! It seems like the same issues—bad maintenance and lax rules—are still causing loss of life decades later. The government there must prioritize people's safety over everything else.
D
David E
As someone who has traveled on ferries in Southeast Asia, this hits close to home. The article says it was cleared and not overloaded, so what went wrong? Weather? Mechanical failure? Hope the investigation is swift and transparent. Thoughts with all affected.
A
Aditya G
Terrible. We have our own share of ferry and boat accidents in India too, especially during monsoons. It's a stark reminder for our own authorities to not become complacent. Safety protocols cannot be just on paper. Hope they find more survivors.
S
Sarah B
The resilience of the local fishing boats and navy in the rescue effort is commendable. In such disasters, every minute counts. I hope the search operations can continue effectively despite the rough seas. Sending strength to the rescue teams.
K
Karthik V
With over 100 still missing, the uncertainty for their families must be unbearable. The article mentions "spotty enforcement" in remote areas—this is often the root cause. Development must include safety infrastructure, not just roads and bridges. A very preventable tragedy.

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