19 stranded Filipino seamen rescued off Myanmar

MANILA, Philippines – Nineteen Filipino seafarers who were stranded for a week after their vessel ran aground in an isolated island near Pathein, Myanmar at the height of Cyclone Nargis were rescued by a naval ship, an embassy report said yesterday.

The Philippine Embassy in Yangon reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the 19 seamen would be repatriated in the next few days.

Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Noel Cabrera said the embassy had difficulty trying to find out if any Filipinos were hurt in the strongest storm ever to hit Myanmar because of downed communication lines and damaged infrastructure.

Four of the 19 seamen went to the consular office on Monday and requested to be issued travel documents for their return to the Philippines. The others were able to save their travel papers.

The seamen told embassy officials that they were rescued on May 10 when they were picked up by a Myanmar navy vessel and brought to Yangon.

They said they had been stranded since the evening of May 2 when their 8,800-MT cargo vessel was buffeted by very strong winds and waves. Miraculously, they said, the ship ran aground on the rocky formation and stayed there.

The rescued seafarers are Edilberto M. Menia, Arnel D. Tagaro, Bonifacio B. Lacoste Jr, and Mark Anthony S. Agbuya, Avelino E. Hormachuelos, Andres M. Villalon, Alexander A. Sebolino, Wilmar B. Avestruz, Reynaldo C. Gomez Jr, Casutlo A. Torres, Arnulfo M. Montecillo Jr, Alberto M. Compas Jr., Manuel Victor Acedera Jr, Filomeno A. Tumakay, Jervis L. Marte, Dionisio Glenn M. Barote Jr., Tracy E. Salac, Romeo L. Badar, and Elvis T. Ramirez.