DFA on HK fire: No verified Pinoy casualties for now
Nineteen Filipinos affected by the massive fire that broke out at a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong have been rescued and are safe, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Py Caunan told the Inquirer on Thursday.
“The 19 are considered rescued and safe. We are still confirming how many more need to be rescued,” she said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on the other hand, said that it has yet to receive any confirmed reports about Filipino casualties in the fire that started on Wednesday afternoon at the northern Tai Po District in the New Territories.
Firefighters continue to battle the blaze, which has affected seven of the eight towers in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex and killed 55.
Citing unverified information received by the Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong, the DFA said some Filipinos “may be trapped” inside the residential complex.
“Consulate received unverified information that some Filipino domestic workers may be trapped inside the buildings. The consulate immediately passed on this information to authorities,” it added.
But it stressed as of Thursday, it has not received any confirmed reports about Filipinos who were either killed or injured in the fire.
“Efforts by the Hong Kong Fire Services Department to contain the fire are still ongoing. Due to the scale and intensity of the fire, it will take time before the extent of the damage and number and nationalities of the victims are fully determined,” the DFA said.
“The consulate general continues to coordinate with the Hong Kong Police Force and stands ready to assist any Filipino national who may be affected or injured in the fire,” it said. —WITH KYODO NEWS
