At least 15 people were killed and 28 others went missing after a ferry capsized off the southern Basilan province of Philippine on Monday, media reports said.
The accident occurred shortly after midnight as the passenger vessel, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, was en route to Jolo Island in Sulu province after departing Zamboanga city, Al Jazeera reported.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the ferry, which had 332 passengers and 27 crew members on board, sent a distress signal at 1:50am, about four hours after leaving Zamboanga port.
Coast Guard Commander Romel Dua of the Southern Mindanao District told AFP that at least 316 people had been rescued so far, with 15 confirmed dead and 28 people still unaccounted for.
“A coast guard aircraft is on the way to assist the operation. The Navy and Air Force have also deployed their assets,” Dua said.
Emergency responders said rescued passengers requiring medical attention were taken to a hospital in Isabela city, the capital of Basilan.
Dua said the cause of the incident was not immediately clear and an investigation would be launched, adding that the vessel had been cleared for departure and showed no signs of overloading.
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.
On Friday, at least two Filipino sailors were killed and 15 others rescued after a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel sank while travelling from Mindanao to China.
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