Search on For Missing Indian Crew Aboard Capsized Cargo Ship: MEA

There were 26 Indian nationals on board the 33,205-tonne Emerald Star.

A cargo ship. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo Courtesy: Pixabay)

The IN Boeing P-8 I LRMR aircraft has been deployed to Manila to join the search for the Indian crew members, who went missing after their cargo ship sank in the Pacific off the Philippines on 10 October, the external affairs ministry said on 16 October.

The MEA said that five Indian crew members of 'Emerald Star' are in Irene, Philippines and that efforts are being made to bring them to Manila before repatriation to India.

Eleven Indian crew members went missing on Friday after their cargo ship sank in the Pacific off the Philippines, prompting Indian missions in the Philippines, Japan and China to launch a search.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said these missions were regularly monitoring the situation.

In a series of tweets, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that there were 26 Indians on board, of which 16 have been rescued. Ten are still missing, she said.

The minister said the Indian Navy's P8I aircraft has reached Manila and joined the search and rescue operation for the missing Indians.

The P8I is a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

According to a statement from the Japanese coastguard, the 33,205-tonne Emerald Star with 26 Indian nationals on board sent a distress signal early on Friday, 13 October, as the Hong Kong-registered vessel was sailing some 280 kilometres east of the northern tip of the Philippines.

(With inputs from PTI. This story has been updated.)

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