DMW: 7 Filipino seafarers hurt in drone attack on ship at Strait of Hormuz
Seven Filipino seafarers suffered injuries on May 5 after their ship, the Maltese-flagged container ship CMA CGM San Antonio, was hit in a reported Iranian drone attack at the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Migrant Workers said on Thursday.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a briefing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City that all seven Filipinos were taken to hospitals for medical treatment.
“Four of them have relatively minor injuries, while three are in more serious condition and are being closely monitored,” he added.
The drone attack occurred while the ship was transiting through the strait, which is being blocked by Iran after it was attacked by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.
Cacdac said the vessel had been reported by some foreign media as a French ship although Philippine records identify it as a Maltese-flagged container vessel.
The Filipinos seafarers were later taken off the vessel and brought to hospitals for treatment. Their exact locations were not disclosed.
Monitoring ongoing
Cacdac said that Philippine Embassy officials and a labor attaché have gotten in touch with the injured seafarers through hospital officials and are monitoring their condition.
The DMW official also gave an update on the 38 Filipino crew members of the MV Hondius, saying they remain uninfected amid several hantavirus cases reported on board the cruise ship that is expected to soon dock near the Canary Islands.
“All 38 Filipino crew have reportedly not been … infected with hantavirus. However, we continue to monitor their situation,” Cacdac said, adding: “Under the circumstances, their situation is okay.”
He said that so far, those infected with the rodent-borne disease were all passengers, saying that three have died while at least one has been brought to a hospital.
The vessel remains under monitoring as authorities continue to assess the situation, Cacdac reported, saying they are coordinating closely with Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa who was earlier directed by President Marcos to help oversee the country’s response along with the DMW.
“Secretary Ted is also coordinating with his counterpart, especially the World Health Organization, regarding the situation of the [overseas Filipino workers], the seafarers on board,” he said.
According to the DMW secretary, the incident underscores the importance of ensuring seafarers are removed from vessels when health risks arise, citing lessons learned from the pandemic.
“It is still best for them to be out of the ship and [to go] home,” he said although he stressed that international health and maritime protocols must be observed as multiple nationalities are involved in this particular case.
