The Japanese Coast Guard today retrieved an unconscious man off the waters of Amami Oshima Island where MV Gulf Livestock 1, a freighter with 43 crewmembers, including 39 Filipinos, capsized as a typhoon packed with strong winds lashed the area Wednesday.
Reports quoting the Japanese Coast Guard said the man was unresponsive when he was found drifting face down in the water some 120 kilometers northwest of Amami Oshima Island at around 7:16 a.m. (6:16 a.m. in Manila).
The man, whose name was not immediately made available, was transferred to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead on arrival.
Japanese authorities rescued Eduardo Sareno, 45, Filipino chief officer of the freighter, last Wednesday hours after the ship sent a distress call as typhoon “Maysak” (typhoon “Julian” in the Philippines) whipped the area with strong winds and heavy seas.
A video released by the Japanese Coast Guard showed the dramatic rescue of Sareno while floating in darkness and being led to a boat with a rope.
After being rescued, Sareno reportedly told the Japanese Coast Guard that the ship lost an engine before it was hit by a wave and sank.
Gulf Livestock 1 was en route to China from New Zealand to ferry nearly 6,000 live cattle.
The Dubai-based Gulf Navigation, operator of the ill-fated freighter, issued a statement today conveying its "regrets" and offered sympathies to the families and loved ones of the missing crewmembers.
“Our hearts go out to those onboard and their families at this time. We also express deep regret for the sad loss of the livestock on board. We are monitoring the situation closely and working closely with those involved in rescue efforts. We pray that there are other survivors,” the shipping company said in a statement posted on its official website.
Meanwhile, a Filipino crewmember of an oil tanker is missing and another one was injured after a fire broke out in a boiler of the ship’s engine room off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka last Thursday.
The Panamanian-registered MT New Diamond was about 38 nautical miles east of Sri Lanka when the fire broke out.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue its updates on both incidents.