By Marisol Bo-oc | 11:02 PM August 22, 2024
All 29 Filipino crew members of Greek-owned MT Sounion bombed near the coast of Yemen were safe.
The Filipino crew came from the following areas: Iloilo City (2), Cebu City (1), Talisay city, Cebu (1), Calatrava, Negros Occidental (1), Davao City (2), Kanangga. Leyte (1), Paranaque (1), Hilongos Leyte (1), Manapla, Negros Occi (2), Lucban, Quezon (1), San Juan Batangas (1), San Carlos City, Pangasinan (1), Muntinlupa (1), Malaybalay, Bukidnon (1), Jones, Isabela (1), Patnongon, Antique (1), Bugasong Antique (1), Ubay, Bohol (1), Samar (1).
The Associated Press reported that Yemen’s Houthi rebels are suspected to have carried out the assault on the Sounion, now abandoned in the waterway.
A French destroyer rescued 29 mariners from an oil tanker.
Military officials did not name the French destroyer involved in the rescue. The Sounion also had not asked for an escort prior to the attacks, the EU mission said.
The French military separately released an image of the Sounion, showing the blaze on board had been extinguished. It also published an image of its fire targeting the drone boat as well.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Thursday that the vessel reported an explosion close to it that caused minor damage after an encounter with an uncrewed vessel 57 nautical miles south of Yemen’s port of Aden.
The Arab News reported that the vessel and its crew were safe and it was proceeding to its next port of call.
The Sounion has 150,000 tons of crude oil aboard and represents a “navigational and environmental hazard,” the mission warned. “It is essential that everyone in the area exercises caution and refrains from any actions that could lead to a deterioration of the current situation.”
On Wednesday, the captain of the cargo ship sailing off the coast of Aden reported a total of five explosions in nearby waters, UKMTO said, later identifying the vessel as the SW North Wind I.
Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas.
