Cargo Ship Sinks off Iran

OUR Filipino seamen were rescued Friday after the South Korean freighter Orchid Sun sank in the Arabian Sea off Oman on Thursday, according to Claro Cristobal, spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affiars.

In a statement, Cristobal said rescue efforts are still ongoing for 9 other Filipino and 4 South Korean crewmembers that had been reported missing after the cargo ship sank.

Cristobal said the rescued Filipinos are undergoing treatment in a Muscat hospital.

Charge d’Affaires Mac Arthur Corsino of the Philippine Embassy in Muscat is coordinating rescue efforts for the missing Filipinos with Omani authorities, hospital care for the rescued Filipinos with agents of shipping company, according to Cristobal.

Earlier, the Korea Times, quoting South Korea’s Ministry of Affairs and Trade, reported that Omani coast guards were searching for seven Filipino and four Korean crewmembers of the sunken ship Sun Orchid.

"The ship carrying 23 sank because of a water leak," said Seyed Masih Momeni, a shipping and ports official

Thirteen people are feared missing after a South Korean-registered cargo ship sank in Iranian waters, Iran's state television has said.

The report said 23 people had been on board when it went down in the Sea of Oman, south-east of Chahbahar port.

Ten of the crew were picked up by passing vessels, an official with Iran's ports and shipping organisation told the TV station.