6 sailors found after Israel-bound ship sinks; 7 still missing
Cargo freighter which left Greece and was headed for Haifa sank 50 miles off the Lebanese shore.
By Fadi Eyadat and The Associated Press Tags: Turkey Israel newsUnited Nations and Israeli forces found six crew members who were missing after an Israel-bound freighter sank in stormy weather in international waters about 80 kilometers off Lebanon, officials said.
The forces were still searching on Saturday evening for the remaining seven crew members.
The ship was headed from Greece to the northern Israeli port of Haifa when it sank, the Israeli military said, adding that no foul play was suspected. Defense Minister Ehud Barak has sent Israeli Air Force rescue helicopters and Israel Navy divers to search for survivors.
A doctor from Haifa's Rambam Medical Center Emergency Medicine Unit said that one of the survivors, age 49, was brought to the hospital on Saturday.
He was suffering from fatigue and hypothermia.
According to the doctor, the survivor had been in the water for 24 hours with no raft, although he was wearing a simple floating device.
He was pulled out of the water by an Israel Defense Force rescue unit.
The survivor said that the crew distributed floatation devices and stayed on the ship's deck until it was completely submerged under water.
UNIFIL, a force of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, received a distress call from the vessel, SALA II, late Friday, said UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti.
A UNIFIL vessel, Zafer of Turkey, set off to the location but the distressed ship sank before the rescuers arrived.
All 13 crew members are Ukrainian nationals, U.N. officials said.
Israel and Lebanon have tense relations that worsened after the 2006 Second Lebanon War between Israel and the Hezbollah militant organization.
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The Port of Haifa. |
| Photo by: (Yaron Kaminsky) |
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This cannot be ruled out.
Hey guys, the ship was attacked by a Falafel and Hummus Squads. The mix is very volatile and highly explosive.
Actually Hizbollah is responsibkle for the following: All crimes against Amnerica and Europe that benefit Israel. ??
... and the IDF / Mossad just 'happened' to be 'on scene'... Internationally well-known SAR resources... NOT!
more to this that theyv'e told us so far.
"One should not rule out the possibility that this was the result of Hezbollah attack. " from the article: 'adding that no foul play was suspected.' Officials have spoken to crew members.
On this Chanukah holiday, eight have been found. May they find the other four, w/ G-d's help. B.H.
There is NO reason to suspect foul play. Eight people were rescued and they will be able to say what happened. And there aren't 8 people (or 12) that run the world. Jane
Maybe it was Hezbullah who attacked the USS Liberty?
Nothing unusual about lousy Ukranian - Jewish relations, Ukraine has always been a source of virulent anti-semitism That's the reason, at the first opporunity to do so, most Jews left the Ukraine The only question is, did the Ukraine feel it was worthwhile to sacrafice 11 of their citizens so they could continue to show their hatred for Jews?
17:43 Peres to lead Israeli delegation to Copenhagen climate conference (Haaretz) the holocaust worshiper leading holocaust worshipers to copenhagen climate conference? no doubt climate will get even worse because of holocausters attending climate conferences.
For the sake of Lebanese people
One should not rule out the possibility that this was the result of Hezbollah attack. After all HMS Hanit was struck by a missile fired by Hezbollah in 2006...
Sea's pretty rough up here today, doubt there's foul play involved. Hope the crew are found safely.
Under whose flag was this ship steaming? Greece? Onassis Enterprizea? Lloyd's of London will be adjusting its insurance rates shortly.
Very interesting timing that coincides with very tense Israeli-Ukranian relations. Think baby, think. !!