Pinoy Among Fatalities in Sinking of South Korean Vessel Off Russia – DFA
Updated 3:28 p.m.) A Filipino was among the 12 confirmed dead in the sinking of a South Korean fishing vessel off Russian waters last Dec. 1, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.
“Our embassy in Moscow confirmed the first Filipino casualty in the sinking of the South Korean-owned fishing vessel Oryong 501 in the Bering Sea last Dec. 1,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said at a press briefing.
“The Filipino crewmember was among the 11 bodies that were retrieved from the waters yesterday,” Jose said.
Jose said the remains of Jessie Alovera Londres, 25, are on board the Russian rescue ship Karolina-77.
“His next of kin has already been informed of this event,” Jose said, adding there are still no details yet on the body’s repatriation to the Philippines.
Earlier, three of the 13 Filipino crewmen of Oryong 501 were rescued.
Jose said search and rescue operations are still ongoing for the nine other Filipinos and 41 other passengers of the ill-fated ship.
He said the current weather condition and the freezing sea temperature has complicated search and rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, Jose said one of the three Filipino survivors, Micol Sabay, was able to speak with his family in the Philippines.