Keralite among 11 missing sailors after vessel sinks off Philippines

By Team Asianet NewsableFirst Published Oct 15, 2017, 12:01 PM IST
Highlights
  • The ship sank with 26 Indian nationals on board
  • Other vessels sailing near the area managed to rescue 15 crew members
  • Search is on to locate 11 missing sailors, including Captain Rajesh Nair, a Kerala native

Search has been intensified to locate 11 missing Indian sailors, including Keralite captain Rajesh Nair, of the cargo carrier Emerald Star which sank in the Pacific off Philipines on October 13.

The ship sank with 26 Indian nationals on board, and three other vessels sailing near the area managed to rescue 15 crew members. 

The Hong-Kong registered vessel sank while sailing some 280 kilometres east of the northern tip of Philippines. The ship was en route from Indonesia to China with nickel ore, and it is suspected that the liquefying of the cargo led to capsizing. 

The emergency rescue team is carrying out the search and rescue operations, but the activities are hampered by a typhoon. 

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar has tweeted the list of rescued Indians. 
 

List of 15 rescued Indians as received from Japanese officials. Search on for missing 11. Our Missions regularly monitoring the situation. pic.twitter.com/0CKalemnie

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia)
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