Pirates in Somalia released 20 more Filipino seamen seized when a Japanese bulk carrier was hijacked recently in the Horn of Africa, a government official said on Friday.
The seafarers, all crew members of MV Stella Maris, a Japanese-owned cargo ship, were seized on July 20 in the pirates-infested African waters, the Philippine News Agency reported.
The crew members, "safe and unharmed", are now in the custody of the Philippine Embassy officials based in Africa, Philippine Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told reporters.
The release of the 20 seamen came three days after 15 others got freedom, bringing down to 47 the number of Filipino seamen still being held by Somali pirates.
Filipino seafarers compose a third of the world's shipping manpower, making them the most prone to pirate abductions compared to other nationalities.
Somalia is at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden, which leads to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, one of the world's most important shipping channels. The country has been plagued by factional fighting between warlords and hasn't had a functioning central administration since 1991.
The International Maritime Bureau has reported more than 50 attacks or attempted attacks in or near the Gulf of Aden this year, up from 31 for all of last year. The Horn of Africa nation's coastline is considered one of the world's most dangerous stretches of water because of piracy.
Source: Xinhua
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