Ferry disaster in the Philippines claims 52 lives
The death toll from a ferry sinking in the Philippines has risen to 52 after divers recovered the body of a woman on Wednesday. The ferry, Trishna Kerstin 3, was carrying at least 368 passengers and crew when it capsized early on January 26 near Mindanao in the southwestern part of the country. Authorities noted that the vessel was likely overloaded.
Giovanni Lopez, the Philippines’ Transportation Secretary, said that overcapacity and exceeding passenger limits may have contributed to the accident. He also cited multiple safety violations and announced administrative charges against Aleson Shipping Lines, the operator of the ferry, whose previous vessel caught fire in 2023, resulting in 31 deaths on the same route.
Investigators reported that trucks and motorcycles on board were not weighed as required by law, raising the possibility that cargo shifted during the voyage. Reiniel Pascual, an investigator from the country’s maritime authority, confirmed that passengers were not given instructions by the crew as the ship began to tilt.
The incident has also prompted scrutiny over potential corruption. Coast guard personnel and maritime officials responsible for authorizing vessel departures are under investigation. Maritime accidents are unfortunately common in the Philippines, a country of over 7,000 islands where millions rely on ferries for inter-island travel.
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