BALUK-BALUK ISLAND, Basilan — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recovered five more bodies from the sunken passenger vessel MV Trisha Kerstin 3 during intensified underwater operations off Baluk-Baluk Island on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, raising the confirmed death toll from the maritime tragedy to 51.
According to the PCG, technical divers resumed search and retrieval operations early in the morning, beginning with a pre-dive briefing at 6:00 a.m. led by the Technical Diving Group (TDG). The briefing focused on safety protocols, operational objectives, and dive limitations, given the extreme depth and hazardous conditions surrounding the wreck site.
Four highly trained PCG technical divers descended to an estimated depth of 180 feet, concentrating their search on the vessel’s first-deck economy accommodation area on the port side, where several passengers were believed to have been trapped when the ship sank.
During the operation, the divers successfully recovered five cadavers. The remains were immediately secured by the support team and transferred to MRRV-9702 for transport to Zamboanga City Port. The process is being carried out in close coordination with the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ZCDRRMO) to ensure proper handling, identification, and disposition.
PCG officials confirmed that among the latest victims recovered were two children, two women, and one man, underscoring the devastating human cost of the disaster.
“Each retrieval is a painful reminder of the tragedy faced by the victims and their families,” the PCG said in a statement. “Our teams remain committed to conducting operations with utmost professionalism, discipline, and respect for the deceased.”
As of Tuesday, authorities reported a total of 51 fatalities and 316 survivors in connection with the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3. Rescue and retrieval efforts remain ongoing as divers continue to comb through different sections of the submerged vessel.
The underwater mission has been hampered by severe challenges, including strong underwater currents, limited visibility, and the considerable depth of the wreck. Despite these risks, the PCG has maintained continuous operations, prioritizing the safety of its personnel while striving to locate remaining victims.
The recovered remains will undergo forensic examination and identification by the Philippine National Police–Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) upon arrival in Zamboanga City. Families of the victims continue to wait anxiously for confirmation, hoping to finally bring their loved ones home for proper burial.
Meanwhile, grief and uncertainty continue to grip communities affected by the tragedy. Relatives of missing passengers remain gathered in ports and evacuation centers, clinging to updates from authorities as operations continue.
The PCG reiterated its commitment to exhaust all possible efforts in the search and retrieval mission and vowed to sustain operations until all missing passengers are accounted for.
As the difficult and dangerous work continues beneath the waters off Basilan, questions linger over how many more victims may still be trapped inside the wreck—and how long families must endure the painful wait for closure.