A ferry carrying more than 350 people sank after midnight near Basilan island in the southern Philippines. Authorities confirmed at least 15 people died and over 300 were rescued. The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was traveling from Zamboanga City to Jolo island in Sulu province when it went down about one nautical mile off Basilan. The Philippine Coast Guard said the ferry had 332 passengers and 27 crew. The vessel apparently faced technical problems despite good weather. Coast Guard commander Romel Dua revealed, “There was a coast guard safety officer on board and he was the first to call and alert us to deploy rescue vessels.” The officer survived. Rescue teams including coast guard and navy ships, a surveillance plane, an air force Black Hawk helicopter, and local fishing boats are involved in the operation. Basilan governor Mujiv Hataman said survivors and bodies were taken to Isabela City. “I’m receiving 37 people here in the pier. Unfortunately, two are dead,” he said. So far, officials have confirmed 15 bodies recovered. Initial survivors were taken to Baluk-baluk village near the sinking site. Emergency responder Ronalyn Perez warned that local hospitals were overwhelmed. “The challenge here really is the number of patients that are coming in. We are short-staffed at the moment,” she said. The cause of the sinking is unknown. Dua said there was no sign of overloading and the ferry was cleared before departure. An investigation is underway. Ferry accidents are common in the Philippines due to weather, old ships, crowding, and safety rule issues. In 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after hitting a tanker, killing over 4,300 people, one of the worst maritime disasters globally.