PRESS RELEASE
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                *             Tel. No. 834-4000               *              www.dfa.gov.ph
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No. 277;  5 June 2003
REMAINS OF SEAFARERS KILLED IN MIAMI EXPLOSION ARRIVE TODAY

The remains of six (6) Filipino seafarers who died in the explosion on board the cruise-liner SS Norway at dock side in Miami, Florida last May 25 are scheduled to arrive tonight via Northwest Airlines flight NW71 at 10:05 pm. Relatives of the deceased will be accompanied by Undersecretary Franklin M. Ebdalin and Executive Director Petronila Garcia of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).  Officials from the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA) are also expected to be on hand.

The explosion occurred at 6:37 AM Miami Time (6:37 PM Manila Time, May 26), about half an hour after the ship completed a week-long cruise of the eastern Caribbean. Two of the Filipino crewmembers, Mssrs. Rene Villanueva and Ramil Bernal,  were killed immediately as they were blown through the ship's cargo doorway and into the water. In the next few days, four others succumbed to their injuries while in hospital. They were Mrssrs. Candido Valenzuela, Ricardo Rosal, Mari John Bautista who passed away on May 27 (Manila time), and Mr. Ramon Villarais who passed away on May 30 (Manila time).

Eight (8) more Filipino seafarers were also injured in the explosion and were brought to the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida.

Consul Henry Bensurto, Jr. of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC and the Philippine Honorary Consul in Miami, Dr. Angelito Macatangay visited the injured Filipinos ath the hospital to ensure that appropriate assistance is extended to them.

Terrorism had been discounted as the cause of the explosion.

The DFA and the OWWA are in close coordination with the local manning agencies, Magsaysay Lines and CF Sharp Crew Management, and the relative of the deceased seafarers.

The owners of the cruise liner, Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), shouldered the medical expenses of the injured Filipinos, the repatriation of the remains of the deceased seafarers and the visit of the families of the injured Filipinos. - END