DMW: Pinoy seafarers undergoing medical attention after Houthi attack on MV Eternity C

MANILA, July 14 ------ There are now a total of eight Filipino seafarers rescued from the sunken MV Eternity C that was recently attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Undersecretary Bernard Olalia of the Department of Migrant Workers said the rescued seafarers are part of a 21-man crew affected by the Houthi attack on MV Eternity C. "Mayroon po iyong 21 crew. Mayroon tayong inaayos tayong papauwiin tayo ng 8 na na-rescue at ang karagdagang 8 ay missing pa ay pinaghahanap pa ngayon," he said in an interview on DZMM Radyo Patrol.

Olalia said the rescued personnel are undergoing treatment especially after their ordeal. "Ginagamot muna sila sa lugar bago po ayusin ang repatriation pabalik sa Pilipinas," he said. "'Yung 8 na narescue ay kasalukuyang dinadala sa safe na port, binibigyan ng medical attention dahil sila po dumanas ng katakot takot na problema nung tinitira ng missile. Ang ilan sa kanila ay lumubog at nagpalutang lutang sa dagat."

MV Eternity C, a bulk carrier that was carrying 21 Filipino crew, was one of the two foreign-flagged vessels attacked by Houthi rebels on July 6. Seventeen Filipinos, as well as Vietnamese and Romanian crew members, were able to escape from the other vessel, MV Magic Seas. They were rescued by a passing merchant vessel and arrived safely in Djibouti on Monday, Djibouti authorities said.

The Red Sea, which passes Yemen's coast, has long been a critical waterway for the world's oil and commodities but traffic has dropped since the Iran-aligned Houthi militia began targeting ships in November 2023 in what they said was solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com