3 Filipino survivors of boat sinking in Russia on way home

MANILA, Philippines–Three Filipino survivors, as well as the remains of five compatriots who perished in the Dec. 1 sinking of a South Korean fishing vessel in Russia’s far eastern coast, will be heading for Korea Friday, but it is not certain if they will be home before Christmas.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday that five Filipinos were now counted among the dead in the sinking of the Oriong-501, leaving five other Filipinos among the missing.

Three Filipinos were earlier announced to have survived the sinking of the vessel which had 59 crew members, including 13 Filipinos, 35 Indonesians and 11 South Koreans. A Russian inspector was also on board and survived.

But the search and retrieval operations were continuing, with Russia, South Korea and the United States cooperating, said DFA spokesman and Assistant Secretary Charles Jose.

Jose told a press briefing on Thursday the three Filipino survivors were among the survivors now on board the Russian ship Odin which was expected to leave the scene of the sinking in the Bering Sea today and head for Busan, South Korea.

The Odin is expected to arrive in Busan on Dec. 22, along with the remains of some of the 27 who perished that included five Filipinos, 14 Indonesians, six Koreans and two unidentified fishermen.

Before leaving for Busan, the seven survivors were to stop in the Russian port city of Vladivostok to undergo medical examinations and give their statements on the accident.

“Our embassy in Seoul will send representatives to Busan upon the arrival of the Odin to assist the Filipino survivors and attend to the expeditious repatriation of the deceased,” Jose said.

According to Jose, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul had asked the South Korean foreign ministry whether it would be possible to repatriate the three Filipino survivors and the remains of their deceased compatriots before Christmas.

“They said it’s difficult to say at this time whether they can make it back in time for Christmas,” he said.