A Filipino seafarer who was critically injured in the September 29 Houthi attack on the cargo vessel MV Minervagracht in the Gulf of Aden has passed away, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
DMW Secretary Leo Hans Cacdac confirmed the death and expressed deep sympathies to the family of the victim in a social media post on Tuesday evening.
“We convey the sad news of the passing of the Filseafarer critically injured during the Sept 29 attack on the MV Minervagracht in the Gulf of Aden. Our deepest sympathies to his family. Per the President’s directive, we are providing them with full support and assistance,” Cacdac said.
The attack occurred on September 29, 2025 in the Gulf of Aden, where the MV Minervagracht—a Netherlands-flagged cargo vessel—was struck by an unknown projectile, causing a fire and significant structural damage.
The ship was sailing approximately 120 nautical miles southeast of Yemen’s port city of Aden when the incident happened. A total of 19 crew members were on board, including 12 Filipinos, two of whom were injured in the attack.
The DMW is coordinating with the family of the deceased to provide full support and assistance, including financial aid, per the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
The Philippine Embassy in Ankara, the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul, and the Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) worked together to repatriate 10 Filipino crew members who arrived safely in Manila on October 5.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue to resolve regional tensions and protect seafarers and international trade.
The Netherlands government has also called for stronger measures against the Houthi rebels, labeling them as a terrorist group.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the September 29 attack in the busy shipping lane on the MV Minervagracht, sparking a fire and wounding two people.
The second casualty, also a Filipino, is recovering from injuries sustained in the attack, while 10 other Filipino crew members were repatriated to Manila at the weekend, the DMW said.
Philippine officials are on their way to Djibouti, along with the dead sailor’s sister and wife, to meet the shipowner and arrange for the repatriation of his remains, Cacdac said in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday.
The Houthis have said their attacks on commercial shipping are in support of Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The Iran-backed group holds swaths of territory in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. —With Agence France Presse
