Fourteen Filipino seafarers rescued following a drone attack on a Liberian-flagged container ship are set to return to the Philippines on Monday, November 2.
The seafarers are scheduled to arrive at Clark International Airport after being rescued by Bulgarian authorities on October 28.
The Filipinos were among 18 crew members rescued after their vessel reportedly sank following a drone strike while traveling from Haifa, Israel, to Constanta, Romania.
The crew members were safely brought to the Bulgarian port of Varna, where they received assistance following the incident.
Personnel from the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Hungary traveled to Varna to assess the condition of the Filipino seafarers, provide support, and extend financial assistance.
Recounting their experience, the crew said their captain instructed them to jump into the water immediately after the first drone strike to ensure their safety. The seafarers reportedly spent two to three hours in the water before rescuers reached them.
Meanwhile, ship captain Andrey Bakholdin and Captain George Kazana, a representative of the container line's management who assisted the crew following the rescue, praised the Filipino seafarers for their professionalism and teamwork.
Both captains expressed their appreciation for the Filipino crew and their willingness to work with them again in the future.
The 14 Filipino seafarers are expected to reunite with their families upon their arrival in the Philippines.
