Two More Filipinos confirmed dead in Bering Sea mishap

image courtesy of www.pbs.orgering sea

MANILA — Two more Filipino crewmen of a Korean fishing vessel that sank off Bering Sea in Russia have been confirmed dead on Friday by the Department of Foreign Affairs, bringing to three the death toll of Philippine nationals killed in the tragedy.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the identities of the two fatalities will be released once their families have been notified.

The three dead were among the 13 Filipino crewmen of the ill-fated Oryong-501 that sank last Dec.

1. Of this figure, three Filipinos survived the accident while seven others remain missing.

Oryong 501’s crew consists of 35 Indonesians, 13 Filipinos, 11 South Koreans and one Russian inspector.

Five days since the incident, rescue teams scanning the sea for more survivors are having little success finding more survivors as search efforts are hampered by current weather condition and the freezing sea temperature.