DMW: Filipino seafarer killed, another hurt in Persian Gulf tanker attack

A Filipino seafarer died while another Filipino was injured when their Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was attacked at the Persian Gulf this week, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Saturday.

In an interview with GMA News' JP Soriano, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the victims were part of the crew of the MT Velos Sapphire.

An unidentified projectile hit and caused fire to the vessel on Thursday past 1 a.m. local time.

Cacdac said 22 Filipino crew members were onboard. He said efforts are underway to determine the condition of the wounded Filipino.

"There were 22 Filipino seafarers on board. Nasawi 'yung isang kababayan natin (One of our countrymen died). [Of] The 21, one is injured and the 20 others are safe and sound," Cacdac said.

Philippine authorities have yet to ascertain if the projectile that damaged the vessel was a drone or a missile.

The ship's manager, for his part, said it was believed to be caused by a missile attack.

The vessel was sailing towards Bahrain when it was hit, Greek management firm Velos Tankers said in a statement.

"The company is greatly saddened to report the death of one of its seafarers, who was found fatally injured on board after having initially been reported missing in the aftermath of the explosion," it said.

However, Velos Tankers did not mention that a Filipino sailor was hurt, saying there were no other injuries logged. It said the crew extinguished a fire on the ship caused by the explosion, and that there no reports of pollution.

The vessel was taken to Bahrain's Khalifa Bin Salman Port and an investigation will be launched. The extent of the damage to the vessel's hull was under assessment.

Cacdac said his office is coordinating with the ship's manning agency for the safety and eventual repatriation of the Filipino survivors.

The DMW chief said the government has reached the family of the deceased Filipino and gave assurances that they would be provided assistance.

In the wake of the incident, the DMW will release a new advisory calling on ship owners to avoid having their vessels pass through the Persian Gulf. It will also ask them the respect the rights of Filipino seafarers to refuse passage at high-risk areas, repatriation, and appropriate wages. — with a report from Reuters/ VDV, GMA News