Ferry Sinks Off Southern Philippines During Overnight Voyage
A passenger ferry with more than 350 people on board sank off the southern coast of the Philippines early Monday morning. The ship sent out a distress signal hours after leaving Zamboanga City for Jolo Island. Officials said the ferry sank in the waters of Basilan province, east of Baluk Baluk Island.
Responders had a harder time and had to act quickly because the incident happened at night. Officials from the Coast Guard said that the sinking happened about 5 kilometers from the nearest island. Right after the distress signal was sent, emergency protocols were put into action.
Source: Gulf News/Website
Rescue Teams Save Hundreds Amid Difficult Conditions
Search operations went on all day, and at least 316 passengers were saved alive. Romel Dua, the commander of the Coast Guard, said that naval and air force assets were quickly sent to the scene. People who survived were taken out of the water and brought to nearby ports and hospitals.
Authorities released video of tired survivors getting first aid after being at sea for hours. Rescuers had a hard time with logistics because so many patients showed up at once. While treating injured passengers, local emergency responders said they didn’t have enough staff.
Confirmed Deaths And Missing Passengers Raise Concerns
As recovery efforts continued, officials confirmed that at least 15 people had died as a direct result of the ferry disaster. 28 passengers are still missing, which has led to a larger search and rescue effort. Families of passengers were on edge all day, waiting for news from officials.
Officials said that the number of deaths could change as searches continued in nearby waters. Before moving on to investigative procedures, rescue teams made finding missing people their top priority. Officials from the Coast Guard stressed that all efforts were still aimed at saving lives.
Ferry Route And Passenger Details Emerge
The ferry was going from Zamboanga City to Jolo Island, which is a common route between the two islands. People on board included local workers, families, and people traveling overnight across the Sulu Sea. Officials said that the ferry was not full when it left.
The ship left just before midnight, and the distress call came in around 1:50 a.m. Initial checks showed that standard passenger manifests were used before the ship left. Investigators are looking over the voyage’s operational logs and weather data.
Hospitals Struggle With Sudden Influx Of Survivors
Hospitals in Basilan and Zamboanga took in dozens of survivors who needed medical care right away. Ronalyn Perez, an emergency responder, said that the facilities were full because there were so many patients. At first, only 1 local hospital took in 18 injured passengers.
Medical teams took care of people who had hypothermia injuries and shock from being in the water for too long. Extra supplies and volunteer help were sent to help overworked healthcare workers. When capacity limits were reached, authorities worked together to move people to other facilities.
Investigation Launched Into Cause Of Sinking
Officials said that a formal marine casualty investigation has been ordered to find out what caused the sinking. Officials stressed that there is still no evidence of mechanical or navigational failure. All available evidence, including survivor accounts, will be reviewed carefully.
The Coast Guard said that the ferry passed the first safety checks before leaving, as long as the weather was good. During the important first few hours of response, investigative work was put on hold because of rescue priorities. Once the rescue operations are over, a full report is expected.
Ferry Accidents Highlight Ongoing Maritime Safety Risks
There have been a lot of deadly ferry accidents in the Philippines over the years across its more than 7,000 islands. Many people depend on aging vessels because there are limited transportation alternatives and affordability issues. Even after repeated maritime disasters, enforcement of safety regulations remains inconsistent.
A ferry fire in southern waters in 2023 killed more than 30 people. The latest disaster has renewed calls for stricter safety rules and stronger enforcement. Authorities are under growing pressure to address the risks tied to maritime transport.
