• A ferry with over 350 passengers sank in the southern Philippines, leading to at least 15 confirmed deaths.
• Rescue operations have saved over 316 people while searching for numerous missing individuals.
• The ferry, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, encountered difficulties shortly after departing from Zamboanga City.
• Authorities are investigating the cause of the sinking amid a history of maritime accidents in the region.
• Local medical facilities are overwhelmed with survivors requiring help.

A ferry carrying over 350 people, the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, sank after midnight off Basilan province in the southern Philippines, resulting in at least 15 confirmed deaths and over 316 passengers rescued. The vessel, which had departed from Zamboanga City en route to Jolo island, encountered technical problems during its journey, according to various reports from CBS News, Reuters, Channel News Asia, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, and India Times.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that 215 people were initially rescued and further operations have confirmed 15 fatalities, while 28 others remain unaccounted for. Fishermen and coast guard personnel have been engaged in intensive rescue efforts, which are being complicated by rough seas during nighttime hours, as shared by various local officials including Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman and emergency responder Ronalyn Perez, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and South China Morning Post.

This tragic incident is part of a troubling pattern of maritime accidents in the Philippines, where sea transport often faces dangers due to poor vessel maintenance, overcrowding, and ineffective safety regulations. Authorities are currently investigating the incident to understand the underlying causes, which remains unclear thus far, as reported by CBS News, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and India Times.