31 now dead in Basilan ferry tragedy

31 now dead in Basilan ferry tragedyThe death toll from the Basilan ferry tragedy has climbed to 31 after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recovered two more bodies during ongoing search and rescue operations, authorities said Friday.

The PCG said the latest recoveries were made in the waters off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan, where the passenger vessel MV Trisha Kerstin 3 capsized in the early hours of Monday.

The ferry overturned at around 1:50 a.m. off Baluk-Baluk Island in the municipality of Hadji Muhtamad while traveling from Zamboanga City to Sulu. The PCG earlier reported that the vessel was carrying 344 passengers and 27 crew members at the time of the incident.

As of Friday, the PCG has logged 316 survivors.

Initial reports placed the number of fatalities at 18. Eleven additional bodies were recovered on Thursday, bringing the total to 29 before the latest two recoveries raised the toll to 31.

To bolster search and rescue efforts, the PCG on Friday deployed the BRP Melchora Aquino to the area, according to Armed Forces spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab.

Since Thursday, the PCG has also dispatched two 44-meter multi-role response vessels — BRP Capones and BRP Tubbataha — to transport stranded passengers in Basilan.

The vessels are serving routes where Aleson Shipping Lines, the operator of MV Trisha Kerstin 3, is the sole transportation provider and has suspended operations.

Following the tragedy, acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez ordered the grounding of the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines pending investigation.