A passenger ferry with over 350 people on board sank in the southern region of the Philippines overnight, resulting in at least 15 confirmed fatalities, according to authorities.

The vessel, known as M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, was an inter-island cargo and passenger ferry traveling from Zamboanga to Jolo island in Sulu province. It carried 332 passengers and 27 crew members. The ferry experienced technical difficulties and went down after midnight, as reported by coast guard officials.

Departing from Mindanao in the south, the ferry sent out a distress signal at 1:50 local time on Monday. The sinking occurred in favorable weather conditions approximately a nautical mile from Baluk-baluk village in Basilan province, stated coast guard Commander Romel Dua.

Following the incident, rescue efforts were swiftly mobilized, with a coast guard safety officer on board being the first to report the situation. Rescuers managed to save 316 passengers, while tragic accounts emerged of passengers being tossed into the sea, with some losing their lives, including a 6-month-old baby.

Search and rescue operations involving coast guard, navy ships, air force assets, and fishing vessels were in progress off Basilan. Governor Mujiv Hataman confirmed the reception of survivors at the pier, with a few casualties reported.

The coast guard revealed that 316 passengers had been rescued, and the recovery of at least 15 bodies had taken place. The cause of the ferry’s sinking remained unclear, prompting an investigation. Dua asserted that the ferry had been cleared by the coast guard before departure, with no indications of overloading.