11 Indian crew missing after ship sinks off Philippines:Japan's coastguard

The 33,205-tonne Emerald Star with 26 Indian nationals on board sent a distress signal early today

AFP/PTI  |  Tokyo 

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Eleven Indian crew members were missing today after their cargo ship sank in the Pacific off the Philippines as a typhoon churned in the region, Japan's coastguard said.

The 33,205-tonne Emerald Star with 26 Indian nationals on board sent a distress signal early today as the Hong Kong- registered vessel was sailing some 280 kilometres east of the northern tip of the Philippines, said a statement from the Japanese coastguard, which received the distress signal.


Three other vessels sailing near the area rescued 15 crew members but 11 others were still missing, a Japanese coastguard spokesman said, adding that the cargo ship has sunk.

"We have dispatched two patrol boats and three planes to the site but a typhoon has made a rescue difficult," the spokesman added.

First Published: Fri, October 13 2017. 17:05 IST