Four more survivors from the Greek-operated cargo ship Eternity C have been rescued from the Red Sea nearly 48 hours after the vessel was sunk by Yemen’s Houthi militants.
The four – three crew members and one Greek security guard – were found alive, bringing the total number of survivors to 10.
Rescuers say the search continues for at least 10 others still missing, with concerns that some may have been captured by the Houthis.
The Eternity C, which was carrying grain for the UN World Food Programme, was struck by sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades fired from Houthi speedboats earlier this week. It was the second Greek-operated ship to be sunk in recent days, following a period of relative calm in the region.
The attacks mark a resurgence of the Houthis’ Red Sea campaign, launched in late 2023 in what the group claims is support for Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.
The Eternity C’s operator, Cosmoship Management, confirmed one person is believed dead and another four are missing. The company is working with authorities and nearby vessels to aid in the search and verify Houthi claims of having detained some of the crew.
US officials have condemned the incident, accusing the Houthis of kidnapping, while maritime authorities reported a sharp decline in commercial shipping activity through the Red Sea. Insurance costs have also surged as underwriters withdraw cover for vessels transiting the volatile region.
The Houthis released video footage of the attack, showing the ship taking on water as rebels chanted slogans including “death to America.” They later claimed in a televised statement to have rescued some crew members and taken them to safety.
The rebels’ leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, reiterated that any vessels linked to Israel or its allies remain banned from using Red Sea shipping lanes. The Eternity C and Magic Seas, both Liberian-flagged and Greek-operated, are believed to have had indirect links to Israeli ports.
The number of vessels passing through the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait has dropped significantly since the attacks, amid mounting fears of escalation and further disruption to global trade.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
