17 seafarers back in PH after Houthi attack
All 17 Filipino crew members of MV Magic Seas, who were safely rescued after the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier was attacked last week by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, are back in the country, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Sunday.
The DMW said the second batch of 11 Filipino seafarers arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Saturday night. The first batch of six crew members returned home on Friday.
“Aside from our immediate financial assistance and reintegration services, all the seafarers will be also provided with medical check-ups, including physical and mental health assessment tests, as well as psychological counseling to help them recover from the challenges they faced in another country,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement.
Attack repelled
The DMW earlier reported that the crew of the bulk carrier composed of 17 Filipinos, a Romanian and a Vietnamese survived the July 6 attack mounted by Houthi rebels in small boats.
Four of the MV Magic Seas’ crew members who also served as security personnel managed to repel the attack which, however, damaged their vessel.
Forced to abandon ship, the Filipinos and the two foreigners were rescued by Safeen Prism, a container ship passing by the area.
A report by Crewcare Inc., the ship’s licensed manning agency, said MV Magic Seas was sailing about 94 kilometers (51 nautical miles) southwest of Hodeidah in Yemen when it came under attack.
On the other hand, search and rescue operations are still ongoing for 13 missing Filipino crew members of another Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, MV Eternity C, which was also attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea between July 7 and July 8.
Eight Filipino seafarers from the same ship were rescued earlier after spending more than 48 hours afloat at sea.
Of the ship’s 22-member crew, 21 are Filipinos, including the captain, while one is Russian.
