Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Thursday confirmed that three more Filipino crew members of bulk carrier MV Eternity C were found safe, bringing the total number of rescued Filipino seafarers to eight.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rescuers found four more crew members Thursday who went missing after Yemen’s Houthi rebels sank a ship in the Red Sea as the United States alleged the group may “have kidnapped” others on board.

Data shows a small but consistent number of bulk carriers have continued to transit the Red Sea over the past 12 months during a 230-day lull in Houthi attacks on vessels.

The Department of Migrant Workers is working on verifying reports that Houthi forces may have kidnapped several crew members of MV Eternity C after attacking and sinking the vessel while traversing the Red Sea.

The Houthis have confirmed that they sank another ship, a day after releasing a video showing seizing and blowing up the Liberian-flagged vessel 'Magic Seas'. The militant group's naval forces attacked the 'Eternity C' while it was en route to Eilat port, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement.

The Houthis in Yemen sank their second ship in two days when a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, Eternity C, went down in the Red Sea early Wednesday morning.