MANILA, Philippines — Seventeen Filipino seafarers and two other crew members escaped harm after their ship came under armed attack by alleged Houthi rebels in the Red Sea near Hodeidah, Yemen, on July 6, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Tuesday.

In a report to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac confirmed that all Filipino crew members are safe and have been brought to a hotel in Djibouti, East Africa, along with the ship’s Romanian master and Vietnamese chief engineer.

“The Department remains in close coordination with relevant government agencies and with the LMA to facilitate the safe and swift repatriation of the affected Filipino seafarers,” Cacdac said.

He also assured that government assistance will be extended to both the seafarers and their families.

According to the official report from Crewcare, Inc., the Licensed Manning Agency (LMA) of the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Magic Seas, the ship was sailing approximately 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah when it was attacked by small boats carrying armed men reportedly equipped with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

The vessel’s onboard security team, composed of four armed personnel, responded by returning fire, forcing the attackers to flee. The ship’s crew was later rescued by a passing container vessel, Safeen Prism.

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and keep the President informed of any significant developments as they arise,” Cacdac added.