Five Filipino seafarers have been rescued following the sinking of MV Eternity C, which was struck by Houthi rebel attacks while sailing through the Red Sea, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed.
In a press briefing late Wednesday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the five rescued crew members are now “safe and sound,” though their current location is being kept confidential. He noted they may have suffered minor injuries but are in stable condition.
The Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, was carrying 22 crew members — 21 of them Filipinos — when it was hit by explosive drones and rocket-propelled grenades, reportedly fired by Houthi militants based in Yemen.
Cacdac emphasized that while reports of casualties have circulated, these have yet to be officially verified. “We still have to confirm, and the best source at this stage will be the seafarers themselves, kapag nakapanayam natin yung lima,” he said.
Seventeen other crew members remain unaccounted for, with ongoing search operations underway. “We’re looking for those who could have gone overboard and [we’re] still hoping that they are still alive,” Cacdac added.
The DMW chief also cautioned against jumping to conclusions based solely on foreign media coverage. “It’s hard to speculate and state something that was stated by international media,” he said, stressing the importance of firsthand accounts from the survivors.
In response to the heightened maritime danger in the region, the Philippine government has reinforced its policy banning Filipino seafarers from being deployed on vessels that transit through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden — areas now officially labeled as “war-like zones.” Manning agencies are required to submit written assurances and detailed itineraries before any deployment is approved.
