Zamboanga: Philippine rescue workers are racing to find those missing after a passenger ferry capsized in the south of the country, with at least 15 deaths reported so far. The Philippine Coast Guard stated that the shipwreck occurred at 1:50 AM local time today while the passenger ship MV Tricia Kurstin 3 was traveling from Zamboanga province in the south to Jolo in Sulu province. There were 332 passengers and 27 crew members on board, which was within the ship's capacity of 352 passengers.

According to Thai News Agency, the latest reports indicate at least 15 deaths, 316 rescued, and 28 still missing, with rescue efforts intensifying. The military has deployed ships, reconnaissance aircraft, and helicopters to assist in the rescue operation. Relatively calm seas have facilitated the rescue efforts. Meanwhile, authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the sinking. The governor of Basilan province stated that most survivors are in stable condition, but several elderly individuals require emergency medical attention.

The Philippines is one of the countries with the highest number of maritime accidents in Southeast Asia due to its geographical location as an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands and also facing an average of 20 severe storms per year.