image

Navy aircraft joins search operation for missing Indian sailors near Philippines

by IBNS 17 Oct 2017, 08:30 am

New Delhi, Oct 17 (IBNS) : The Indian Navy's aircraft on Sunday joined the search operation for ten Indian sailors missing after their ship sunk in the pacific off the Philippines coast last week.

"Indian Navy P81 has reached Manila and has also joined the search and rescue operation for missing Indians," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj  said in a series of tweets.  


The Minister said she has been informed by the Indian embassy in Japan that a helicopter and two patrol vessels of Japan coast guard are already engaged in search and rescue operation. The Indian mission in Philippines and China have also been in the operation. 

Emerald Star, a 33,000-tonne ship with  26 Indians on board was caught in a typhoon on Friday, September 13. After the ship sent distress signal 16 of the crew members were rescued by other ships nearby. 

The Foreign Ministry said officials from the Indian Guangzhou Consulate visited the injured crew in a Xiamen hospital.

"Officials from our Guangzhou Consulate visited the injured Indian crew of 'Emerald Star' in a Xiamen hospital. 11 crew members are in Xiamen, MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted.