November 27, 2023
MANILA – The Filipino seafarer who was injured when a Russian missile struck their ship in the Black Sea has returned to the Philippines, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer-in-Charge Hans Cacdac said on Sunday.
The seafarer fractured his left hand from the blast but was treated in an Odesa hospital, the DMW announced earlier in November.
In a photo shared by the DMW official on X (formerly Twitter), the seafarer’s left hand is wrapped in what appears to be a cast as he is welcomed by officials from DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) at the airport.
“Filseafarer from Ukraine missile blast returns with his healing fractured left hand,” Cacdac’s post caption read.
The DMW officer-in-charge also mentioned that both his agency and OWWA will give post-arrival assistance to support the seafarer.
On November 9, a Russian missile damaged a Liberian-flagged ship near Odessa, Ukraine, injuring four Filipinos and killing a Ukrainian pilot on board.
According to the DMW, among the injured Filipino seafarers were the vessel’s captain, third mate, and engine trainee.