Rescuers save four more seafarers from Houthi-struck ship in Red Sea, 11 still missing
Crew members said to be from the cargo ship Eternity C are seen during a rescue operation, off Yemen, on July 9.
ATHENS/LONDON - Rescuers pulled three more crew members and a security guard alive from the Red Sea on July 10, maritime security sources said, a day after Houthi militants sank the Greek ship Eternity C and said they were holding some of the crew still missing.
It was
the second Greek bulk carrier sunk this week by the Iran-aligned Houthi militia, shattering months of relative calm off Yemen's coast, the gateway to the Red Sea and a critical route for oil and commodities to the world.
Many shipping companies have suspended voyages due to the fear of attack.
The Houthis are believed to be holding six of the Eternity C's complement of 22 crew and three guards, maritime security sources said.
'These are blameless victims who were simply doing their job,' the UK-based Seafarers' Charity association said.
'Seafarers should be able to work safely at sea. Instead, they are being unfairly forced into the firing line.'
Eternity C was first hit on July 7 with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades fired from speed boats.
Four people are believed to have been killed in the attacks, maritime security sources say.
If confirmed, the deaths would be the first fatalities in the area since June 2024.
Following a second attack on the morning of July 8, the crew were forced to jump into the water. Rescuers have been searching for survivors since the morning of July 9.
The vessel's operator, Cosmoship Management, has not responded to Reuters' requests for comment.
A total of 10 survivors from the Eternity C have been rescued so far - eight Filipino crew members, one Indian and one Greek security guard.
The four people rescued on July 10 had spent nearly 48 hours in the water.
'This fills us with more courage to continue to search for those missing, as the Greek vessel operator requested, and shows that our search plan was correct,' said Mr Nikos Georgopoulos, an official at the Greece-based maritime risk firm Diaplous.
Another 11 people are still missing.
A vessel said to be the Eternity C sinks in the Red Sea, in video footage released by Yemen's Houthis on July 9.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The United States' Mission in Yemen has accused the Houthis of kidnapping crew members and has called for their immediate, unconditional release.
On July 9, the Houthis' military spokesperson said in a televised address that the Yemeni navy had 'responded to rescue a number of the ship's crew, provide them with medical care, and transport them to a safe location'.
Fraught passage
The Eternity C sank on July 9, days after
Houthis hit and sunk the Magic Seas, reviving a campaign launched in November 2023 that has seen more than 100 ships attacked in what the group said was solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war.
Both of the vessels hit this week flew Liberian flags and were operated by Greek companies. All crew from the Magic Seas were rescued before it went down.
Some of their sister vessels in the respective fleets had made calls to Israeli ports in the past year, an analysis of shipping data showed.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi reiterated in a televised address on July 10 the group's ban on companies transporting goods related to Israel through the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
He said this week's attacks were part of that ban, which has been in place since 2023.
'It was never stopped or cancelled, and it is a valid decision,' he said. 'What was discovered (this week) was the violation by some companies of the decision.'
The Eternity C was first hit on July 7 with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades fired from speed boats.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The insurance cost of shipping goods through the Red Sea has more than doubled since this week's attacks, with some underwriters pausing cover for some voyages, industry sources said on July 10.
The number of daily sailings through the narrow Bab al-Mandab strait, at the southern tip of the Red Sea and a gateway to the Gulf of Aden, was 32 vessels on July 9, down from 43 on July 1, Lloyd's List Intelligence data showed.
Several ships on July 10 broadcast messages referring to Chinese crew and management or armed guards on board, according to MarineTraffic data.
One vessel broadcast that it had no relation with Israel. REUTERS
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Over 100,000 Thai civilians flee amid clashes with Cambodia as death toll rises to 14
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Evacuees rest as they take shelter in a gymnasium on the grounds of Surindra Rajabhat University in the Thai border province of Surin on July 25, 2025. BANGKOK - More than 100,000 people have fled the bloodiest border fighting between Thailand and Cambodia in a decade, Bangkok said on July 25, as the death toll rose and international powers urged a halt to hostilities. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on July 24, with the UN Security Council set to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis on July 25. The Thai interior ministry said more than 100,000 people from four border provinces had been moved to nearly 300 temporary shelters, while the kingdom's health ministry announced that the death toll had risen to 14 – 13 civilians and one soldier. Cambodian newspaper Khmer Times reported that as of 6am local time on July 25 (5am Singapore time), both countries' troops were still fighting, with shelling continuing in several areas in the early hours of the morning. 'Cambodian forces have conducted sustained bombardment utilising heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems,' Thailand's military said in a July 25 statement . 'Thai forces have responded with appropriate supporting fire in accordance with the tactical situation.' In the Cambodian town of Samraong, 20km from the border, AFP journalists reported hearing distant artillery fire on July 25 morning. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HDB resale price growth moderates in Q2, more flats sold Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Cambodia and Thailand are willing to consider ceasefire: Malaysian PM Anwar Singapore Prison officer accused of taking bribes to smuggle nude photos, prescription drugs to inmate Sport 'We can match Malaysia or do even better', say Singapore's divers Business MAS' measures spark cautious optimism for Singapore stock market revival: Analysts As the guns started up, some families packed their children and belongings into vehicles and sped away. 'I live very close to the border. We are scared because they began shooting again at about 6am,' Pro Bak, 41, told AFP. He was taking his wife and children to a Buddhist temple to seek refuge. 'I don't know when we could return home,' he said. AFP journalists also saw soldiers rushing to man rocket launchers and speeding off towards the frontier. Debris is pictured on the ground at Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, which sustained damage after being hit by Cambodian artillery, in the Thai border province of Surin on July 24, 2025. PHOTO: AFP Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet urged citizens in a July 24 Facebook post to uphold 'morality and dignity' and avoid any actions that could harm the Thai Embassy, Thai companies, or Thai nationals residing in Cambodia, reported Thai newspaper The Nation. 'For Cambodian citizens who are living, working, or studying in Thailand and may be facing pressure from discrimination and wish to return to Cambodia, please come back to our country,' he said, adding that those who require assistance can contact the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok or the Consulate-General of Cambodia in Sa Kaeo Province in Thailand. Calls for calm The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbours – both popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists – over their shared 800km frontier. Dozens of kilometres in several areas are contested and fighting broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at least 28 people dead and tens of thousands displaced. A UN court ruling in 2013 put to rest the matter for over a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a new clash. Fighting on July 24 was focused on six locations, according to the Thai army, including around two ancient temples. Cambodia fired rockets and shells into Thailand, while the Thais scrambled F-16 jets to hit military targets across the border, with ground troops on both sides, backed up by tanks, battling for control of territory. Both countries blamed each other for firing first, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station hit by at least one rocket. July 24's clashes came hours after Thailand expelled the Cambodian ambassador and recalled its own envoy after five members of a Thai military patrol were wounded by a landmine. Diplomatic sources told AFP that the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on July 25 over the clashes. The meeting, requested by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, will be held behind closed-doors at 1900 GMT (July 26, 3am Singapore time), the sources said. Cambodia downgraded ties to 'the lowest level' on July 24, pulling out all but one of its diplomats and expelling their Thai equivalents from Phnom Penh. The United States urged an 'immediate' end to the conflict, while Cambodia's former colonial ruler France made a similar call. The EU and China – a close ally of Phnom Penh – said they were 'deeply concerned' about the clashes, calling for dialogue. 'The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict,' State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told journalists. Britain's foreign ministry on July 24 advised against all but essential travel to parts of Cambodia and Thailand. AFP, REUTERS, THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Video of migrant worker tied to forklift sparks outrage in South Korea
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A Sri Lankan man tied to a forklift being lifted off the ground in a brick factory at Naju, South Jeolla Province. A video showing a Sri Lankan man tied to a forklift being lifted off the ground in a brick factory at Naju, South Jeolla Province, sparked public outrage in South Korea on July 24. The short clip, filmed earlier in July and released by a migrant worker's human rights network based in South Jeolla Province on July 24, shows the man bound with vinyl wrap while a forklift hoists and transports him. Laughter can be heard in the background; no one is seen attempting to intervene. According to the group, although it was not captured on video, one person scolded the victim, saying, 'You should say sorry.' The victim, a Sri Lankan man in his 30s, is reportedly suffering from psychological trauma following the incident. 'The worker's basic dignity as a human being was completely disregarded,' the civic group said during a press conference on July 24 morning. 'This is a dehumanising act that treats a migrant worker as a tool, not a person.' The group urged authorities to launch a full investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Cambodia and Thailand are willing to consider ceasefire: Malaysian PM Anwar Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Business MAS' measures spark cautious optimism for Singapore stock market revival: Analysts World Trump and Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 President Lee Jae Myung condemned the video on social media, calling for a thorough investigation. 'I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the video,' Mr Lee said in the Facebook post. 'It is hard to accept that such an incident occurred in a country known as a global cultural powerhouse and a model democracy. This is an intolerable act of violence against a vulnerable minority and a blatant violation of human rights.' He continued, 'The way we treat those who are powerless and in difficult circumstances reflects the true dignity of our society.' Mr Lee vowed that the government, including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, would respond actively to ensure that no human rights violations or labor exploitation occur by taking advantage of workers' visa status. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
California ammunition background checks declared unconstitutional by US appeals court
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Guns and ammunition for sale in Sacramento, California. A divided federal appeals court on July 24 said California's first-of-its-kind law requiring firearm owners to undergo background checks to buy ammunition is unconstitutional, violating the Second Amendment right to bear arms. In a 2-1 vote, the ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California upheld a lower court judge's permanent injunction against enforcing the law. Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta said the law 'meaningfully constrains' people's right to keep and bear arms. She also said California failed to show the law was consistent with the country's historical tradition of firearm regulation as required under a 2022 landmark US Supreme Court decision, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association vs Bruen. 'By subjecting Californians to background checks for all ammunition purchases, California's ammunition background check regime infringes on the fundamental right to keep and bear arms,' Ms Ikuta wrote. California officials expressed disappointment. 'Today's decision is a slap in the face to the progress California has made in recent years to keep its communities safer from gun violence,' Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Both Cambodia, Thailand willing to consider ceasefire, says Malaysian PM Anwar Singapore Singapore urges all parties in Thailand-Cambodia border dispute to exercise restraint Business MAS' measures spark cautious optimism for Singapore stock market revival: Analysts World Trump, Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit Life Hulk Hogan, who helped turn pro wrestling into a billion-dollar spectacle, dies at 71 A spokesperson for state Attorney General Rob Bonta, also a Democrat, said 'our families, schools, and neighborhoods deserve nothing less than the most basic protection against preventable gun violence, and we are looking into our legal options.' All three judges on July 24's panel were appointed by Republican presidents, though appointees of Democratic presidents hold a 9th Circuit majority. California can ask an 11-judge appeals court panel or the Supreme Court to review the decision. The plaintiffs included Ms Kim Rhode, who has won three Olympic gold medals in shooting events, and the California Rifle & Pistol Association. In a joint statement, the group's president and general counsel Chuck Michel called the decision a victory against 'overreaching government gun control,' while Ms Rhode called it 'a big win for all gun owners in California.' Many gun rights groups and 24 mostly Republican-led US states submitted briefs supporting the law's opponents, while a few gun safety groups sided with California. Ms Janet Carter, managing director of Second Amendment litigation at Everytown Law, in a statement said California's law imposed a 'minimal burden,' a US$1 (SS$1.20) fee and one-minute delay, for most firearms owners seeking ammunition. 'Background checks for ammunition sales are common sense,' she said. Voters had in 2016 approved a California ballot measure requiring gun owners to undergo initial background checks to buy ammunition, and buy four-year ammunition permits. Legislators later amended the measure to require background checks for each ammunition purchase. California said it received 191 reports in 2024 of 'armed and prohibited individuals' who were blocked through background checks from buying ammunition. The injunction was issued by US District Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego, who has ruled in several cases in favour of gun owners. An appeals court panel put the injunction on hold during California's appeal. California said several old firearms restrictions supported the background checks. These included colonial era rules requiring licenses to produce gunpowder, the disarmament around 1776 of people who refused to take 'loyalty oaths,' and late-19th century rules requiring government permission to carry concealed weapons. Circuit Judge Jay Bybee dissented from the decision. He accused the majority of flouting Supreme Court guidance by effectively declaring unlawful any limits on ammunition sales, given the unlikelihood a state can point to identical historical analogues. The law 'is not the kind of heavy-handed regulation that meaningfully constrains the right to keep and bear arms,' Mr Bybee wrote. President George W. Bush appointed Ms Ikuta and Mr Bybee to the bench, while President Donald Trump appointed Circuit Judge Bridget Bade, who joined the majority. REUTERS