Diving operations to locate the remaining missing passengers of the sunken M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 in Basilan waters are set to begin on Wednesday, January 28, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday, as authorities continued search and recovery efforts following the deadly maritime incident.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OCD-BARMM) reported that at least 19 people were killed in the incident, while 24 others remained missing as of its latest update.
The fatalities, still undergoing validation, were mostly attributed to drowning, the OCD said.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said six technical divers from Manila are arriving with their equipment and are expected to immediately commence underwater operations.
“Since they traveled by air, they will be able to start technical diving tomorrow,” Gavan said at a press briefing.
He added that the Coast Guard has prepared a total of 16 technical wreck divers, with additional teams arriving on Wednesday. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) will also be deployed to support the underwater search.
M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 departed from the Port of Zamboanga City on Sunday bound for Jolo, Sulu, but submerged in the waters off Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan at around 1:30 a.m. on Monday.
OCD-BARMM said a total of 341 individuals were affected by the sinking. Of these, 320 passengers were rescued and transported to Zamboanga City, while two survivors were admitted to the Basilan Medical Center for treatment.
Initial reports identified several fatalities as residents of Zamboanga City, Jolo in Sulu, and Bongao in Tawi-Tawi, including elderly passengers. Authorities said some victims have yet to be formally identified, and validation of the list of missing persons is ongoing.
Search, rescue, and recovery operations remain underway as authorities work to reconcile casualty figures and determine the cause of the sinking.
