4 Pinoy seafarers missing after cargo ship sinks off Indonesia

Four Filipinos were reported missing while six others were rescued when a Danish cargo ship sunk after colliding with a chemical tanker off Indonesia's Batam island last Wednesday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said search and rescue operations are being carried out by the Singapore Police Force Coast Guard to locate the four missing Filipino crewmen.
The six Filipinos who were rescued, meanwhile, are currently confined in a hospital in Singapore and have already been visited by Philippine officials, the DFA said, citing the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.
"The Embassy is coordinating with Singapore authorities and manning agent on the repatriation of the six Filipino seamen," the DFA said.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the collision between Danish cargo ship Thorco Cloud and chemical tanker Stolt Commitment ripped a large hole below the water line on the cargo ship, causing it to sink.
The tanker, operated by Stolt Tankers, suffered only minor damage, it said.
The cargo ship reportedly had 12 crew members from Ukraine and the Philippines and was operated by Copenhagen-based Thorco Shipping.
The AP report also said more than 100 rescuers were deployed on three navy ships and seven rescue boats to search for the missing crew members. —KBK, GMA News

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