Filipino survivors, fatalities in ill-fated Korean vessel to be brought to South Korea — DFA

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MANILA — The three Filipino survivors and five other fatalities from the ill-fated Korean fishing vessel that sank off Bering Sea in Russia will be brought to South Korea on Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Russian ship Odin will leave for Busan, carrying the Filipinos and the remains of five other nationals from the Philippines, on December 12 and is expected to arrive there on Dec. 22, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said.

The Philippine embassy in Moscow has issued a certification of nationality for the survivors which will be used for their exit to Russia and entry to Busan, Jose said.

“Our embassy in Seoul will send a representative to Busan upon arrival to assist the survivors and attend to the expeditious repatriation of the deceased,” Jose said.

The three Filipino survivors were among the seven, which included three Indonesians and one Russian, who were rescued after Oryong 96 sank on Nov. 30. A total of 13 Filipino crewmen were onboard the vessel.

Jose said search and retrieval operations led by Russian, American and Korean authorities are ongoing for 26 more missing crewmen, including five Filipinos, five Koreans and 16 Indonesians. Twenty-seven have been confirmed dead.