Philippine ferry tragedy death toll climbs to 29

The sinking of Trisha Kerstin 3 is the fourth loss of a passenger vessel to occur in the southern Philippines over a period of nine days following three separate incidents off the provinces of Surigao del Norte (one dead), Tawi-Tawi, and Davao Occidental (six dead, eight still missing). The combined death toll of these four incidents is now 36.

The sinking is also the second major passenger vessel incident to occur off Basilan following the fire that killed 33 people on the grounded ferry Lady Mary Joy 3 on March 29, 2023.

Aleson Shipping Lines, the owner of Trisha Kerstin 3, has been ordered by the Philippine Department of Transportation to temporarily suspend its passenger vessel operations while the investigation into the tragedy is ongoing.