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Two Filipino sailors were killed and two others severely injured in the first fatal missile strike on a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden, the Department of Migrant Workers confirmed on March 7
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The bulk carrier M/V True Confidence was struck by the ballistic missile on March 6, killing a total of three crew and injuring four others
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DMW is working towards repatriating the surviving crew members
Two Filipino sailors were killed and two others severely injured in the first fatal missile strike on a bulk carrier near the Gulf of Aden, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on March 7.
The March 6 attack on bulk carrier M/V True Confidence resulted in three casualties and injury of four others. Survivors have abandoned the vessel, as reported by the US military.
CNN said a coalition of warships are now in the area assessing the situation.
The DMW has withheld the victims’ identities for privacy reasons.
The agency said it is providing full support to families of the affected seafarers and working towards repatriating the surviving crew members in coordination with the shipowner and manning agency.
The DMW reiterated its call to shipowners with ships navigating the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden sea lanes to comply strictly with the expanded “high risk areas” designation and to implement appropriate risk mitigation measures, such as rerouting vessels and deploying armed security personnel onboard such vessels.
The DMW also called for continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and to address the causes of the current conflict in the Middle East.
The attack on Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned M/V True Confidence marks a significant escalation of Houthi strikes on ships navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The attacks started in October and are in support of Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
