The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reported that two Filipinos died while some are injured and still missing following the explosions that hit Beirut, Lebanon.
Eleven of the 12 reported missing early on Wednesday are seafarers in a ship docked near the explosion. The DFA believes they jumped into the sea when the incident caused strong shockwaves.
The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday evening has released an advisory in its official Facebook page, saying the DFA received information that 10 of the 11 seafarers initially reported missing “have been found safe and accounted for.”
While search and rescue operations and information gathering are ongoing, the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon is ensuring that all affected Filipinos will be given financial assistance. The repatriation of the remains will be shouldered by the government.
“Because of what happened, we see na (that) we have to fast track the repatriation especially the shipment of remains, yung mga kababayan natin na kailangan ng medical repatriation, kung kaya naming isabay sila, gagawin namin (if we can conduct medical repatriation for our countrymen at the same time, we will do it),” DFA USec. Sarah Lou Arriola says.
Meanwhile, Malacañang has extended condolences to Lebanon and to the families of Filipinos who died in the tragic incident.
“Pero tayo po, pangangalagaan po natin ang interes ng ating mga kababayan diyan. Iuuwi natin sila kung kinakailangan. Handa po tayong gumawa ng kahit anong hakbang para mailayo po sila sa danger (We will take care of the interests of our countrymen there. We will repatriate them if needed. We are prepared to undertake measures to keep them away from danger),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
More than 1,000 Overseas Filipinos in Lebanon have been repatriated due to the COVID-19 crisis and around 230 are still waiting to be brought home. The chartered flight for OFWs may reach until next week since airports have been affected by the explosion.
– Report from Naomi Tiburcio
