THE number of fatalities from the ill-fated M/V Trisha Kerstin has increased to 51, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
In a statement, the PCG said five more cadavers were retrieved from the sunken vessel during the search and rescue and dive operations at a depth of approximately 180 feet in the vicinity waters off Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan on Tuesday morning.
“The remains were immediately secured and are being transported to Zamboanga City Port for identification and proper disposition, in coordination with the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ZCDRRMO),” it said.
The PCG said the total number of survivors remains at 316.
The ferry sank in the early morning of January 26, about 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province, while en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo Island in Sulu.
The vessel was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)