Rescue teams faced challenges like staffing shortages and overwhelmed crews amid the large numbers of survivors being brought ashore, sometimes barefoot and wrapped in blankets.

A ferry disaster off Basilan, Philippines, involving the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, has left at least eight confirmed dead with dozens more missing as rescue teams race against time after the vessel sank following an emergency signal near dawn.

Authorities say the coast guard cleared the ship before departure and are now investigating the causes while ongoing search and rescue operations continue and casualty figures are updated.

The report is carried as a wire from The Associated Press via CTV News, contributing to international coverage.

The vessel was carrying hundreds of passengers and crew when it sent a distress call, with reports indicating hundreds aboard and survivors counted at around 317 by early afternoon.

The incident underscores broader maritime safety concerns in the Philippines, including maintenance, overcrowding, and enforcement of safety rules, particularly in remote areas.

Rescue and search operations were underway as crews work to locate the missing and recover the dead, with reports of crews being stretched thin by the scale of the operation.

Local authorities and officials, including a mayor, publicly circulated casualty updates via social media as the situation unfolded.

International condolences arrived from figures such as the Australian Ambassador, who expressed sympathy for those killed and injured and their families.

Early confirmations noted multiple fatalities, with ongoing efforts to tally the full death toll."

Officials emphasized the need to determine the accident’s precise circumstances while continuing search and rescue and coordination among agencies.

The ship operator and coast guard offered condolences and asked the public for patience as rescue efforts proceed and figures are updated.