397 passengers rescued from ill-fated ship in Norway; 163 Pinoy crew all safe


Macel Ingles, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at Mar 24 2019 06:31 PM | Updated as of Mar 24 2019 11:36 PM
(UPDATED) At least 397 passengers have already been evacuated from the Viking Sky cruise ship, according to the Joint Rescue and Coordination Center in Southern Norway as of 7:39 a.m. Sunday.
There were 1,300 people on board the ship, of which 915 are guests and 458 are crew. Most of the guests are British and Americans.
The ship is expected to be towed to shore in Molde.
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Courtesy of CHC Helicopters
The may day call from the Viking Sky cruise ship was sent out around 2 p.m. Saturday as it sailed towards Hustadvika outside Fræna along the Møre coast.
Reliable sources contacted by ABS-CBN Europe earlier reported that 163 Filipinos may be on board the ship.
A Facebook post of a crew from the Viking Line Cruise, owner of the cruise ship Viking Sky, posted 9 p.m. yesterday said that he is safe and awaiting rescue.
Some of the elderly passengers rescued with helicopters have already been brought to hotels in Molde.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is closely monitoring the situation.
It also said the 163 Filipino crew members are all safe and are helping evacuate the passengers.
There are no Filipino passengers on board the ship, the DFA added.

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