17 Pinoy seafarers to return to PH on July 11

The 17 Filipino seafarers aboard the MV Magic Seas are expected to return to the Philippines on Friday, July 11, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Wednesday night.

“They are due home on the 11th of July. We'll provide further details on this,” DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a press briefing.

The rescued seafarers are currently accommodated at a hotel in Djibouti in East Africa.

DMW earlier reported that the Filipino seafarers, along with two other crew members, escaped the Liberian-flagged vessel they were boarding, which was under attack by alleged Houthi rebels on Saturday.

MV Magic Seas was attacked by men with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades while it was sailing roughly 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah.

Meanwhile, Cacdac also reported on situation of the Greek-operated bulk carrier Eternity C that had 22 members on board — 21 Filipinos and one Russian.

Five of the 22 crew members of Greek-operated bulk carrier that was attacked on Monday have been rescued, the DMW reported.

Cacdac said DMW has yet to confirm the reported fatalities on the Eternity C, as rescue operations are still ongoing.

According to a Reuters report, four seafarers were killed during the attack off Yemen. — BAP, GMA Integrated News