ATHENS: Rescuers pulled three extra crew members and a safety guard alive from the Crimson Sea on Thursday (Jul 10), maritime safety sources mentioned, a day after Houthi militants sank the Greek ship Eternity C and mentioned they have been holding among the crew nonetheless lacking.
This brings the overall variety of these rescued up to now to 10, together with eight Filipino crew members, one Indian and one Greek safety guard. The individuals discovered on Thursday had spent greater than 48 hours within the water. One other 11 individuals are nonetheless lacking.
“This fills us with extra braveness to proceed to seek for these lacking, because the Greek vessel operator requested, and exhibits that our search plan was appropriate,” mentioned Nikos Georgopoulos, an official on the Greece-based maritime danger agency Diaplous.
Eternity C is the second Greek bulk provider sunk this week by the Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen. The assaults, which Houthis say are an act of solidarity with Palestinians within the Gaza conflict, have ended months of calm within the space.
America’ Mission in Yemen has accused the Houthis of kidnapping crew members and has known as for his or her rapid launch.
On Wednesday, the Houthis’ navy spokesperson mentioned in a televised tackle that the Yemeni navy had “responded to rescue a lot of the ship’s crew, present them with medical care, and transport them to a protected location”.
The Eternity C sank on Wednesday days after Houthis hit and sunk the Magic Seas, reviving a marketing campaign launched in November 2023 that has seen greater than 100 ships attacked.
Each of the vessels hit this week flew Liberian flags and have been operated by Greek corporations. All crew from the Magic Seas have been rescued earlier than it went down.
Eternity C was first hit on Monday with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades fired from pace boats. 4 individuals are presumed useless, with maritime safety sources saying they have been killed within the assaults. If confirmed, the deaths could be the primary fatalities within the space since June 2024.
Following a second assault on Tuesday morning, the crew have been pressured to leap into the water. Rescuers have been looking for them since Wednesday morning.
The vessel’s operator, Cosmoship Administration, has not responded to Reuters’ requests for remark.
