What happened to the crew of Greek ship 'Eternity C' sunk by Houthis? 15 of 25 crew members 'missing'

The Houthis have confirmed that they sank another ship, a day after releasing a video showing seizing and blowing up the Liberian-flagged vessel 'Magic Seas'. The militant group's naval forces attacked the 'Eternity C' while it was en route to Eilat port, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement. 

 

Saree, in a statement, said the attack was carried out with an unmanned boat and six cruise and ballistic missiles, and the attack was videographed. He added that the ship was targeted as the "company that owns the ship itself resumed operations with the port of Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat), in clear violation of the ban on operations with the aforementioned port."  

 

In one of the most violent attacks on a ship, the attackers surrounded the ship with speedboats and then attacked it with naval drones and grenades on Monday evening. The captain lost control of the 186.4-meter vessel, effectively abandoning it in the water as it appeared to capsize.

 

By Tuesday morning, naval drones targeted the Eternity C once again, forcing the crew and armed guards to jump from the ship into the water.  There were reportedly three armed guards on board, at least two of whom were among the four people who were rescued. These two people are one Greek and the other Indian. There were 21 Filipinos and one Russian on the crew.

 

Saree has told a TV channel that a number of crew members "have been rescued and transferred to a safe place after providing medical services". It is still unclear how many of the crew believed to be missing fell into the hands of the Houthis. 

 

Meanwhile, the Greek authorities have stepped up operations to rescue. "

"We will continue the rescue operation for as long as there is daylight," an official from the rescue company said, adding that the company's goal is only a "peaceful" maritime operation.

Middle East