Seven Pinoy seafarers injured in Strait of Hormuz drone attack, DMW confirms
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac (Photo: DMW)
Seven Filipino seafarers were injured in the drone attack by Iran on a container ship passing the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Thursday, May 7.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said four of the Filipino seafarers suffered minor injuries while the three are being monitored due to serious injuries they sustained during the drone attack on Tuesday, May 5.
“The seafarers are alive, they surivived the attack, and they have taken out of the ship. Our relevant Embassy and Labor attaches are monitoring the situation and they will be visited in the hospital where they are being treated,” said Cacdac in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
He said the injured seafarers were among the crew of the container ship San Antonio.
Cacdac clarified that the ship was not French-flagged as reported in the international media but a Maltese-flagged ship.
“The DMW, through its Migrant Workers Offices, is in close coordination with hospital authorities to monitor the condition of the injured seafarers and to ensure they receive proper medical treatment and care,” said Cacdac.
He, however, did not disclose the name of the hospital. But he expressed gratitude to foreign embassy officials who assisted the Filipino seafarer in taking them out of the attacked ship.
Earlier, the DMW reported that there are more than 1,400 Filipino seafarers who were able to exit the Strait of Hormuz following the armed conflict between Iran and the United Stated-Israel alliance.
Cacdac vowed to pursue all the measures to ensure the safety of Filipino seafarers affected by international maritime security incidents.
“The government continues to closely monitor the situation and provide the necessary assistance to the seafarers and their families,” said Cacdac.