MV Emerald Star: Sushma Swaraj ask Indian Ambassador in Manila for DNA identification

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday asked Indian Ambassador in Manila for the DNA identification of 10 Indian crew members of the MV Emerald Star who went missing on October 17.

In a series of tweet, Sushma said, "MV Emerald Star with 26 Indians sank on 13 October 2017. While 16 Indians were rescued, remaining 10 could not be found. There was extensive search by Japan and Philippines which was joined by Indian Navy." (sic)

"We continued search for missing Indians on nearby islands. Philippine Coast Guard have now informed us that an unidentified decomposed body of with a life jacket marking Emerald Star was found on 28th October 2017 on island city of Banua," Sushma tweeted.

Sushma further confirmed that, since the bodies were decomposed, they were buried there.

"I have asked Indian Ambassador in Manila that the body be exhumed and brought to Manila for identification by DNA," Sushma finally stated.

On October 18, an Indian Naval aircraft reached Philippines Capital Manila to search for 10 Indians missing after their cargo ship Emerald Star, which sank in the Pacific off the Philippines.

Many of the crew members are from Tamil Nadu.

The 33,205-tonne cargo ship Emerald Star, with 26 Indian nationals on board, sank off Okinawa. While 16 Indians were rescued, a search for the missing crew members was launched by Indian missions in the Philippines, Japan and China to locate them.

The vessel reportedly sent a distress signal as the Hong Kong-registered vessel was sailing some 280 kilometres east of the northern tip of the Philippines.