Ferry with 350 on board in southern Philippines

A ferry with more than 350 people on board sank in the southern Philippines after midnight and rescuers have saved at least 215 passengers and retrieved seven bodies.



The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, an inter-island cargo and passenger ferry, was sailing to southern Jolo island in Sulu province from the port city of Zamboanga with 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it apparently encountered technical problems and sank.



The officials also provided the figures on passengers rescued and bodies retreived.



Mujiv Hataman, governor of the island province of Basilan near where the ferry capsized, said in a press conference that passengers and two bodies were brought to Isabela, the provincial capital.



Search and rescue efforts were being done in good weather off Basilan province by the Philippine coast guard and navy, along with a fleet of fishing boats.



Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, badly maintained vessels, overcrowding and spotty enforcement of safety regulations, especially in remote provinces.