BASILAN – The death toll in the tragic sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin III has risen to 64 after Philippine Coast Guard technical divers recovered two additional bodies during underwater operations on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
The latest retrieval was carried out near Baluk-Baluk Island, where the ill-fated vessel went down. According to authorities, the two victims—one female and one minor—were discovered inside the air-conditioned accommodation area on Deck B of the vessel, underscoring the harrowing conditions faced by passengers trapped below deck during the maritime disaster.
The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that the underwater search and retrieval operations remain ongoing, as 15 individuals are still listed as missing. To date, 293 passengers have survived the tragedy.
Coordinated Validation of Casualty Figures
The PCG emphasized that the updated figures were consolidated through joint validation efforts among several agencies and stakeholders, ensuring accuracy and transparency amid the evolving rescue and retrieval operations.
These include the Philippine National Police – Scene of the Crime Operatives, the local City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, and the affected families who continue to coordinate daily with interagency search and rescue teams.
Authorities underscored the importance of this collaborative approach to prevent discrepancies in reporting and to provide families with verified and timely information regarding their loved ones.
Recovery Operations Intensify
Technical diving operations have focused on submerged sections of the wreck, particularly enclosed spaces where victims may have been trapped when the vessel sank. The discovery of the two bodies inside the air-conditioned accommodation area highlights the challenging and emotionally taxing nature of the underwater retrieval missions.
Search teams continue to battle limited visibility, underwater debris, and structural hazards within the wreckage. Despite these risks, PCG divers remain committed to locating the remaining missing passengers.
The Basilan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office confirmed that coordination between national and local authorities has been intensified, with daily briefings conducted to update families and the public.
Families Await Closure
As recovery efforts enter another critical phase, families of the missing cling to hope while preparing for the worst. Authorities have assured them that search operations will persist until all possible areas of the wreck have been thoroughly examined.
The sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin III stands as one of the deadliest maritime incidents in the region in recent years, renewing calls for stricter maritime safety compliance, passenger manifest validation, and improved emergency response protocols for inter-island travel.
Investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing, even as recovery efforts continue beneath the waters off Basilan.
For now, the focus remains on bringing closure to grieving families and accounting for every individual affected by the tragedy.