5 OF 21 PINOY SEAFARERS IN ANOTHER SHIP ATTACKED BY HOUTHI REBELS IN RED SEA RESCUED, SEARCH CONTINUE FOR MISSING OTHERS – DFA

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday night confirmed that five of the 21 Filipino seafarers in a second ship attacked by Houthi militants in the Red Sea have been rescued.

The second cargo vessel, the Eternity C, sank in the Red Sea during the attack.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said the Liberia-flagged vessel has already sunk, and rescue operations are ongoing for the remaining crew members.

The DFA, meanwhile, has received reports of at least two fatalities but de Vega did not confirm their nationality.

The Eternity C ship was carrying 22 crew members—21 Filipinos and one Russian—when it was allegedly struck by drones and rocket-propelled grenades launched by Iran-backed Houthi militants off the coast of Yemen.

Hours before the attack, the Houthi rebels assaulted the first ship, the MV Magic Seas, which had a total of 17 Filipino seafarers and two other foreigners: a Vietnamese chief engineer and a Romanian Master. 

The ship was attacked around 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen on July 6. 

De Vega said the Filipino crew of the other vessel were all rescued and are now on their way to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia