Jamaine Punzalan

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<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcoastguardph%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02Y4NEfJ1wTrdncsK9GsvETpJ1YsbLYaKCgBrz8BhhkqySwvN2Yf2nyHNHRwDYZYvDl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="773" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA — The death toll from the sinking of a ferry on Basilan climbed to 45 on Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said after it pulled two more bodies from the waters in the vicinity of Baluk-Baluk Island. </p><p>The PCG said the number of survivors remained at 316.   </p><p>The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 went down in the early hours of Jan. 26. </p><p>The coast guard said Wednesday it was ending its rescue operations and shifting to a search of the missing after determining that the probability of survival was no longer feasible. </p><p>“We recognize the emotional and psychological toll this incident has taken, and we want to assure you that we will continue our efforts to locate and recover the remains of the passengers and crew, ensuring the utmost respect and dignity,” Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) commander Commodore Philipps Soria said. </p><p>The Philippines earlier grounded the passenger fleet of the ferry&#x27;s operator, Aleson Shipping Lines, pending what was described as a &quot;full-blown investigation&quot;.</p><p>One of the ship&#x27;s survivors described scenes of panic in the moments before the ship sank, with terrified passengers racing to one side of the listing vessel in a bid to rebalance it.</p><p>&quot;No one from the crew alerted us,&quot; 53-year-old lawyer Aquino Sajili told AFP, adding he believed it was likely that passengers would file a lawsuit against the shipping company.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div><div><iframe width="1201" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2L4orW1jm2w" title="&#x27;Bigla na lang tumagilid&#x27;: What caused ferry sinking off Basilan | DZMM TeleRadyo" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <iframe width="1201" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mVEYF4uczKg" title="Technical diving team, ROV deployed to Basilan to aid in search and rescue efforts | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The death toll from the sinking of a ferry on Basilan climbed to 45 on Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said after it pulled two more bodies from the waters in the vicinity of Baluk-Baluk Island.</p>

The death toll from the sinking of a ferry on Basilan climbed to 45 on Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said after it pulled two more bodies from the waters in the vicinity of Baluk-Baluk Island.

Death toll from Basilan ferry sinking hits 45

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Death toll from Basilan ferry sinking hits 45

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 04, 2026 02:57 PM PHT

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Basilan

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MV Kerstin 3

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