|
DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
P R E
S S R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines
Tel. No. 834-4000 |
SFA-AGR-690-07
30
Aug 2007
ONE
FILIPINO SEAFARER
DIES, NINE OTHER FILIPINOS RESCUED OFF
SOUTH
AFRICAN
COAST
AFTER SINKING OF MV
DOUALA
TIDE
30
August 2007 —
Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. reported to the
Department of Foreign Affairs that South African maritime authorities have
rescued nine Filipino seafarers and a Honduran ship captain while one Filipino
seafarer died after the ship MV Douala Tide capsized off Port Alfred,
South Africa
on 23 August 2007.
The
37-foot anchor-handling tug was reportedly sailing from
Dubai
,
United Arab Emirates
to
Douala
,
Cameroon
when it ran into six- to eight-meter swells with 20- to 25-knot winds around 25
nautical miles offshore from the Fish River Lighthouse in Port Alfred. The South
African National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) reported that Maritime Radio
Services had intercepted a radio distress message from the vessel that was
listing and sinking at around 2:50 p.m. on 23 August.
The
South African National Ports Authority, Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre,
NSRI
Port
Elizabeth
, NSRI Port Alfred and the South African Air Force were then alerted. The NSRI
stated that the motor yacht Octopus, which was in the vicinity, rescued
seven survivors while an Air Force helicopter and NSRI swimmer rescued and
secured three others, including the ship captain. Some of the Filipinos were
admitted to hospital but all are reported to be in a stable and satisfactory
condition.
Ambassador
Reyes immediately dispatched Consul General Renato L. Villapando and
Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Officer Earl D. Alonzo to
Port Elizabeth
to assist the Filipino survivors as well as to facilitate the documentation so
that the body of the lone Filipino fatality may be promptly returned home to the
Philippines
.
The
nine Filipinos who survived the sinking are:
1. C/Engr. Genovevo Albarracin;
2. 2/Engr. Fidel Mascardo, Jr.;
3. 2/Mate Exserio Olasiman;
4. Bosun Jessie Villanueva;
5. Jose Feliciano, Jr.;
6. Ronelo Supot;
7. Octavio Omaguing, Jr.;
8. Nilven Dieron; and
9. Warren Erlano.
The
identity of the deceased is being withheld by the Department pending
notification of the fatality's immediate family. END
/Gary
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