Greek Eternity C bulk carrier sinks after Houthi attack in Red sea

The Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier Eternity C has sunk off the coast of Yemen following a deadly attack attributed to Houthi militants, maritime security sources told Reuters on July 9. 

Rescue operations are ongoing, with at least four crew members confirmed dead and several still missing, Caliber.Az reports. 

According to security firms involved in the rescue effort, the Eternity C was first targeted on the afternoon of July 7 by sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades launched from speedboats operated by Yemen-based Houthi fighters. A second strike reportedly occurred during the night of July 8, forcing the crew to abandon ship.

Some of the 22-member crew were seen in the water wearing lifejackets, sources said. At least five people, including four crew members and one armed guard, have been rescued after being stranded for over 24 hours in the Red Sea.

"We will continue to search for the remaining crew until the last light," said an official from Diaplous, a Greece-based maritime risk management firm supporting the mission. "We aim at a peaceful operation," the official added.

There are growing concerns that some of the crew may have been taken hostage by the attackers. The crew includes 21 Filipino nationals and one Russian, along with four armed guards, one of whom is Greek.

The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group, have not claimed responsibility for the assault. 

Greek officials are reportedly engaged in diplomatic discussions with Saudi Arabia, a regional power, in response to the attack.

The Eternity C is the second vessel to be targeted in the Red Sea in the past week, following an earlier assault on the cargo ship MV Magic Seas. The latest fatalities are the first involving commercial shipping in the area since June 2024, marking a dangerous escalation in regional maritime threats.

By Sabina Mammadli