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UAE offers condolences to Philippines over victims of deadly ship sinking
The ferry went down about five kilometres east of Baluk-Baluk Island, part of the Basilan province chain of islands off the Zamboanga peninsula
- PUBLISHED: Mon 26 Jan 2026, 8:27 PM
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The UAE offered its sincere condolences and expressed solidarity with the Philippines over the victims of the deadly passenger ship sinking accident off the coast of Basilan in the south of the country.
A ferry with more than 350 people onboard sank Monday morning in the southern Philippines, leaving at least 18 dead and 24 still missing. The ferry went down about five kilometres east of Baluk-Baluk Island, part of the Basilan province chain of islands off the Zamboanga peninsula.
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A video released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed survivors being plucked from the water and receiving medical attention. Survivors could be heard shouting for help in the dark in one live video on Facebook.
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In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families and relatives of the victims, and to the government and people of the Philippines over this tragic loss.
Many rely on cheap and poorly regulated boats and ships for transport between the country's more than 7,000 islands, despite regular accidents.
