Remains of two Filipino seafarers still in cargo vessel

Source: The Star

MANILA: The remains of the two Filipino seafarers who died from the missile strike in the Gulf of Aden were left in the ill-fated carrier vessel True Confidence, Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac said on Friday (March 8).

Cacdac, in a radio interview, said True Confidence caught fire after the deadly Houthi missile strike.

"The remains of the two crew members who died were on the ship because the missile hit the fuel section of the ship and there was a big fire in the part where the two crew members were," said Cacdac in an interview over Radyo 630.

"There was an emergency evacuation because the fire there was so big, that's why they didn't come back for the bodies," he added.

Cacdac, however, emphasised that a salvaging operation would be conducted to retrieve the remains.

"But now we expect that there will be what is called salvaging operations and that the search for remains will be part of the salvaging operations. The vessel caught fire so the remains of our two crew members will be dug up," he explained.

In the same interview, Cacdac said that all 10 Filipino crewmen aboard the shipping vessel are safe and accounted for, while the other three crew members who were severely hurt are currently receiving medical care at a hospital in Djibouti City.

DMW on Thursday evening clarified that there were three - not two as earlier reported - who were injured in the missile attack.

"It won't take long for them to return home safely. The three [who were injured] are in stable condition, they were also visited at the hospital last night, and it is also expected that they will be granted a medical repatriation soon," Cacdac explained. - Philippine Daily inquirer/ANN