24 survivors of shipboard fire arrive on Saipan

Twenty-four survivors of a South Korean car carrier vessel that caught fire at sea arrived at Charlie Dock yesterday afternoon aboard the Panama-flagged ship that rescued them.
The refrigerated cargo ship Asian Adonis picked up the crew of Asian Empire after the latter caught fire 400 nautical miles southeast of Japan on April 19, forcing the crew to abandon ship into life rafts.

The Japanese Coast Guard then coordinated the response for the crew’s rescue.

The survivors are currently billeted at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan where they are staying in 21 rooms.

According to the surviving crew, it took about three days for them to reach Saipan after Asian Adonis, manned by Captain Vicente Canlas Jr., rescued them.

According to the survivors, they were not injured and that their families have already been informed about their condition.

They shopped for clothes and shoes soon after arriving on Saipan yesterday afternoon.

The rescued crew consisted of 13 Filipino nationals and 11 Korean nationals.

The Filipino nationals were identified as Fernando Jagunap, William Agpawa Jr., Jeffrey Masong, Julises Castillo, Arnel Belicena, Ryan Alagos Odrada, Nemrod Atindan, Wenison Visayana, Allan Ray Capito, Gil de Padua Villaruel, Aristotle Tuliao, Reynaldo Boloron, and Robin Margarijo. The identities of the Korean nationals were not immediately available.

Saipan Tribune learned that Wilhelmsen Ship Management Korea sent a representative from Korea, Pyong Hee Kim, to represent the survivors of Asian Empire.

According to Kim, the Filipino nationals will be leaving Saipan this Friday, April 25, and will be heading to Incheon, South Korea, then to the Philippines. The Korean nationals, meanwhile, will be leaving Saturday due to further investigations.

According to the United Filipino Organization president Annamae Adaza, the Philippine Consulate of Guam called her, informing her to coordinate with the group and their concerns.

Adaza and UFO secretary Mario Mayuga met with the Filipino nationals and discussed their concerns and coordinated their needs.

Saipan Tribune learned that the survivors couldn’t release detailed information of what happened on the ship due to the ongoing investigation.

A person in charge who works for Ambyth Shipping, Mario Punzalan, was taking care of the survivors and seeing to their accommodations at the hotel.

The Japanese Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection Saipan, the vessel’s agent, and U.S Coast Guard Sector Guam coordinated efforts to ensure the safe arrival of the 24 survivors.