Two seafarers died while one was wounded in a stabbing incident aboard ore carrier MV Qing May early Sunday morning.
According to reports from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), officers of the Chinese cargo vessel radioed for help and asked permission to dock in Zamboanga City as the injured crew member was in need of immediate medical assistance.
PCG-Zamboanga Station chief Lt.Jimmy Berbo said the vessel was sailing off Sulu when crewmember Whou Shang Yong attacked his colleagues with a knife.
The fatalities were identified as engineer Xie Lhichao, 28, and chief cook Zhang Weenjo, 35. The injured crewmember, identified as Liao Shie Ghou, was taken to a local hospital while the bodies of the two were kept on board.
The 2012-built MV Qing May was carrying iron ore from Walcott, Australia, to Majishan, China, with 25 crewmembers onboard when the incident happened.
With the PCG’s permission, the ship docked on Sta. Cruz Island.
The crew initially contacted the PCG station in Jolo, but was advised to proceed Zamboanga where there are medical facilities to treat the wounded victim.
