THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday said 17 crew members of the bulk carrier, MV Eternity C, that was attacked on Monday off the coast of Yemen, are still the subjects of ongoing search and rescue operations.
The MV Eternity C had 22 crew members on board, comprised of 21 Filipinos and one Russian.
In a hastily-called online media briefing on Wednesday evening, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said: “The search and rescue for the 17 others is ongoing. Maritime security firms are undertaking the operations. Among the 17 would be the reported fatalities.”
Asked if they are confirming that there are fatalities among the 22 crew members, Cacdac didn’t give a direct answer.
“We choose to wait to talk to the five (rescued seafarers) before we confirm,” he said.
“According to reports we have received, the five rescued Filipino crew members may have been hurt but they did not sustain any major injuries,” said Cacdac.
Earlier yesterday, the DMW said it had yet to ascertain the reported deaths of crew members of the bulk carrier.
In a radio interview, Cacdac said they are still waiting official information regarding the supposed death of some crew members of the MV Eternity C.
“There are reports in the media about certain casualties, but we have yet to confirm it. We are still waiting for further developments,” he said.
