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 people on board the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, but at least 24 people are still missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
The ship, both a cargo and passenger ferry, was en route from the southern island of Mindanao to Jolo island when it issued a distress call at 1:50 local time Monday (17:50 GMT Sunday).
Authorities are investigating the cause of the sinking; the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,100 islands, has a long history of maritime disasters involving inter-island ferries.
Philippine Coast Guard spokeswoman Noemie Cayabyab stated that based on the accounts from survivors, the waters in the area were rough at the time. Video evidence shared by rescue services depicts individuals in life vests floating in the sea awaiting rescue.
Survivors have been seen being assisted and wrapped in blankets as they disembarked from rescue boats. Rescuer Ronalyn Perez noted that their team is facing overwhelming numbers of patients and is currently short-staffed.
This incident joins a troubling history of ferry mishaps in the Philippines where factors like poor maintenance and overcrowding are often cited as causes. Many Filipinos rely on ferry services due to low costs, despite the risks. Recently, incidents have included a ferry fire in May 2023 that claimed 28 lives, including three children.
