M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 tragedy: Four more bodies found, 17 still missing 

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recovered four more bodies during its ongoing underwater operations Tuesday, bringing the total number of fatalities from the tragic sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 to 62. 

The PCG said that there are 293 survivors and 17 individuals remain missing. 

“The PCG emphasizes that these figures are consolidated through the joint validation efforts of the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM), and the affected families who conduct daily coordination with interagency search and rescue authorities,” it said.

The Trisha Kerstin 3 departed the Port of Zamboanga City for Jolo, Sulu, on the evening of January 25 but sank in Basilan waters on the morning of January 26. 

The Department of Transportation said overloading may have led to the tragedy, counting the number of bodies recovered, survivors rescued, and people still missing against the authorized passenger capacity. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News