Ship sunk by Houthis: 11 sailors missing, some in the hands of militiamen

At least four people are reported dead in the attack that saw the Yemeni group resume hostilities against maritime trade in the Red Sea in retaliation for the war in Gaza. Ten have been rescued, but the rest of the crew, mostly Filipinos, are still missing. Stella Maris appeals to the Manila government: ‘The safety of seafarers must be protected.’ Sunday is the day when the Church focuses on workers at sea.

Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The fate of eleven sailors, mostly Filipinos, remains uncertain after the sinking on 9 July of the ship Eternity C, hit in the Red Sea by a new and repeated attack by Houthi rebels.

In the last few hours, rescuers have recovered four more survivors - three crew members and a Greek security guard - bringing the number of people rescued to 10: eight Filipino sailors, one Indian sailor and one Greek security guard. The last to be rescued had been in the water for over 48 hours.

In addition to the 11 people still missing, there are four (including at least two Filipinos) who, according to the survivors' testimony, died in the Houthi attacks. The militiamen claim to have rescued some crew members at sea and taken them “to a safe place”.

However, it is unclear how many sailors they are referring to and whether there are other people still missing.

The Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship operated by a Greek company carrying wheat to Somalia on behalf of the World Food Programme, was attacked twice by Houthi militants with marine drones and RPG rockets on 8 and 9 July.

The ship sank on Wednesday 10 July, a few days after the sinking of another Greek ship, the Magic Seas, whose 17 sailors were all rescued. These attacks marked the resumption of the Houthis' campaign against ships in the Red Sea, which they claim is in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Since November 2023, over 100 ships have been attacked, with the latest victims reported in June 2024.

The US Mission in Yemen accused the Houthis of kidnapping some crew members and demanded their immediate release. Houthi military spokesmen claim to have rescued some sailors, provided them with medical care and transported them to a safe place.

Greek maritime authorities and the operating company, Cosmoship Management, are coordinating the search, but have not issued any official statements.

This dramatic situation comes just before Sea Sunday, which the Church celebrates every July to focus on pastoral and human assistance to all those who work at sea. ‘The safety of our citizens abroad must always be a top priority,’ said Fr. John Mission, national director of Stella Maris-Philippines, in an appeal to the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

‘Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking event,’ the priest told UCANews. ‘As for the missing seafarers, we hope and pray that they will be found. We ask our chaplaincies to contact the affected families and accompany them in their grief,’ added Fr. Mission, who called on the Philippine government to strengthen safety measures for seafarers working in high-risk areas.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Migrant Workers Hans Leo Cacdac reminded Filipino seafarers that they have the right to refuse to sail in areas classified as ‘high risk or war-like,’ such as the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, following the latest Houthi attacks.

Despite the ongoing risk of piracy, kidnappings and naval attacks in African waters and other parts of the world, the Philippines remains one of the world's leading suppliers of seafarers, accounting for over 20% of the 1.2 million seafarers worldwide.