ISTANBUL

The death toll from the sinking of a vessel carrying hundreds of passengers in the Philippines rose to 28, with 10 missing, media reports said Tuesday, citing authorities.

The Department of Transportation ordered the grounding of the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, the owner of the sunken M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, according to the Manila Times.

Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said search and rescue operations continue as authorities launched an investigation.

Lopez noted that the vessel had 317 passengers and 27 crew listed aboard, but nearly 50 ticketed passengers were not on the ship during the voyage.

Authorities are still searching for eight crew members, the ship’s captain, and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) marshal.

The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was en route to Jolo Island in Sulu province before it submerged in the waters off Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan.

The vessel issued a distress signal at around 1.50 am (1750GMT) Sunday, four hours after it departed the Port of Zamboanga City on the southwestern tip of Mindanao.

No oil spill was seen from the vessel.

The Philippines, comprising 7,000 islands, has a long history of deadly ferry accidents due to cheap and poorly regulated boats and ships.