DMW reports third Filipino seafarer death in Black Sea attacks

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported Saturday a third fatality among Filipino seafarers affected by the conflict in the Black Sea amid fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac relayed the development during a news forum in Quezon City. He said a total of 236 Filipinos on 17 vessels have been affected by the conflict in the northern Black Sea.

The headcount includes the three fatalities, 15 injured, and a missing seafarer. Meanwhile, 217 others have been deemed safe.

"Ang iuulat ko ngayon may isang nadagdag na nasawi. So tatlo na po ang nasawi sa atin sa northern Black Sea attacks," Cacdac said during the forum.

(I am reporting that there is one more who died. So three of our countrymen have already died in the northern Black Sea attacks.)

Cacdac said he has already visited the families of the Filipino seafarers who were killed to extend the government’s sympathies, as well as to provide aid and assistance.

Repatriations

Of the 236 Filipinos who were affected by the attacks, 89 have been repatriated. Nine of the 15 injured individuals have likewise been repatriated to the Philippines.

The remaining affected Filipino seafarers are scattered across Ukraine, Romania , Greece and Turkey.

It has been less than two weeks since the DMW reported that two Filipino seafarers were killed and 12 others were injured in drone attacks in the Black Sea in southern Ukraine.

The first seafarer was killed on July 6, while the second was killed on Sunday, July 19.

It was not immediately clear when the third seafarer passed away.

The DMW chief assured Saturday that the Philippine government's repatriation efforts for the distressed Filipinos are ongoing.

"We have issued an advisory to manning agencies and ship owners. There are three items in that advisory. One, for the seafarers, all seafarers in attacked ships, to be repatriated," Cacdac said.

Safety of Filipinos at sea

The DMW also ordered ship owners and manning agencies to move the Filipino mariners in the northern Black Sea to safer areas.

The Migrant Workers department likewise advised ship owners to refrain from traveling with Filipino crew members to the northern Black Sea as the fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues to drag on.

"We have received security assessments from both the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the DND (Department of National Defense), and both the DFA and the DND and both have asserted, established a full scale international armed conflict in the area," Cacdac said.

As this developed, the DMW ordered ship owners and manning agencies to move the Filipino mariners in the northern Black Sea to safer areas.

The Migrant Workers department likewise advised ship owners to refrain from traveling with Filipino crew members to the northern Black Sea as the fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues to drag on.

The agency has said it would reiterate its "high-risk advisory" for the Black Sea following the first report of the Filipino casualties. The original DMW advisory has been out for about a year already.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the DMW and other concerned agencies to ensure that the families of the two deceased Filipino seafarers receive all available assistance. — with a report from Jean Mangaluz/ VDV, GMA News