2 Pinoy sailors likely killed, 5 of 21 rescued after attack by Houthi rebels - DFA official

Two Filipino seafarers were "most likely" killed following an attack by Houthi rebels on a cargo vessel off the Red Sea while five of the 21 Filipino sailors of the sunken ship have been rescued, a senior Department of Foreign Affairs official said.

"Ship has sunk and rescue operations ongoing. At least five of 21 Filipino seafarers, including ship captain have been rescued. There are reports of at least 2 casualties," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told reporters.

Asked if the two reported fatalities in the attack were Filipinos, De Vega said: "Most likely because of 22 crewmen, only 1 is not Filipino."

In a press briefing Wednesday night, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the rescue team found the five Filipino seafarers in the waters.

“Na confirm ng shipowner na lumubog ang Eternity C at sabay nito merong limang tripulante na nasa tubig sila, nakita sila ng rescue team at nasagip sila. Hinahap pa yung the rest,” Cacdac said.

(The shipowner confirmed that Eternity C sank, and rescuers found the seafarers in the waters and rescued them. They are still searching for the rest.)

“Sa pagkaulat sa amin, they might have some injuries, but walang major injuries na inulat,” he added. 

(According to reports we received, they might have some injuries, but no major injuries were reported.)

The ship, named Eternity C, was carrying grains to Somalia for the World Food Program and was attacked by the Iran-backed militants after completing the delivery of aid. 

It sustained engine damage after it was hit during the assault, reports said.

According to a Reuters report, four seafarers were killed during the attack off Yemen.

“We’re getting details on how it (sinking of Eternity C) happened, and the best way to find out is pag nakausap na natin yung na na-rescue (once we talk to the rescued seafarers),” Cacdac said. 

“Sila na rin makapagbibigay ng (they will be ones to give the) confirmation at information as far as they know,” he added.

Cacdac noted that DMW is also conducting personal visits to the families of the Filipino seafarers, as the agency assured that it will continue to assist them.

Reuters reported that security firms involved in the search and rescue operation said the rescued seafarers comprised four crew members and one armed guard.

They said they had not yet made visual contact with the other 17 seafarers.

"We will continue to search for the remaining crew until the last light," said an official at Greece-based maritime risk management firm Diaplous.

"We aim at a peaceful operation," the official said earlier.

Random attacks, piracy and ransom kidnappings of Filipino sailors by pirates, particularly in waters off Africa, have long been a problem for the Philippine government as they lack the capacity to monitor their movements when at sea. 

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest providers of shipping manpower in the world.

A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20 percent of the world’s 1.2 million sailors are manning oil tankers, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to attacks. —With Celine Serquina/LDF/RF, GMA Integrated News