6 Pinoys rescued from sunken Korean vessel

MANILA, Philippines – Six Filipino seamen were rescued after a South Korean-flagged fishing vessel sunk near New Zealand on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

A Filipino crewman died or went missing, according to a report from the Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand (RCCNZ).

Quoting a report from the Philippine Embassy in Wellington, the DFA identified the six survivors as Jessie Perez, Allan Ilao, Edwin Gonzales, Arnel Amodo, Rolan Rola and a certain Gampayon.

They were among the 45 seafarers aboard the “Oyang 70,” which sank some 400 miles east of Dunedin in South Island, New Zealand.  

The crew members were comprised of South Koreans, Indonesians, Chinese and Filipinos.

The surviving crew members were rescued by the Amantal Atlantis, and would be taken to Lyttelton in South Island. 

They were expected to arrive there early morning yesterday.

John Seward, RCCNZ operations manager, said the seafarers are in safe and good condition.

The embassy coordinated with Andy Smith, operations manager of the fishing company that operates the Amantal Atlantis.