At least 18 people have died after a passenger and cargo ferry sank early Monday in waters off the southern Philippines. Search teams continue looking for around two dozen people still missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The ferry, M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, was travelling from Zamboanga City to Jolo Island in Sulu province when it submerged at around 1:50 a.m. local time.

Authorities said the vessel was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members at the time of the incident. Rescue teams have saved at least 316 people, while 18 bodies have been recovered.

Coast guard and navy ships, supported by a surveillance aircraft, an air force Black Hawk helicopter and local fishing boats, are continuing search operations near Basilan province.

Officials said a distress call was received shortly before the ferry sank. The alert was raised by a coast guard safety officer onboard, allowing rescue vessels to be deployed quickly from Zamboanga City. Authorities confirmed that the safety officers survived.

The ferry sank between one and nearly three nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan.

Officials said the vessel departed Zamboanga City at around 9:20 p.m. on January 25 and was operating within its authorised passenger capacity of 352.

Survivors reported that the ferry suddenly listed to one side and began taking in water, forcing passengers into the sea in darkness.

One rescued passenger was separated from his six-month-old baby during the incident, and the child did not survive.

Local officials said emergency teams were struggling to handle the large number of survivors arriving at nearby ports.

Responders in Basilan reported staffing shortages, while authorities received more than 100 calls from family members seeking information about passengers.

Videos released by local disaster management offices showed passengers wearing life jackets floating in the water while waiting for rescue.

Video Credits: 7NEWS Australia/YouTube

Other footage showed survivors wrapped in blankets as they were brought ashore by rescue boats.

Authorities added that the ferry may have experienced technical problems before sinking, although the exact cause remains under investigation.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the ferry had been inspected and cleared before departure, with no immediate signs of overloading.

The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands, has a history of deadly ferry accidents. Despite past incidents linked to safety issues, ferries remain a common mode of transport due to their affordability.

In recent years, 28 people died in a passenger ferry fire in 2023, while at least seven people were killed in a high-speed ferry fire in 2022.

References: BBC, cbc