Filipino fatalities in Hawaii wildfires rise to 3

An aerial image shows a red roofed house that survived the fires surrounded by destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in the historic Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii on August 10, 2023. – Embattled officials in Hawaii who have been criticized for the lack of warnings as a deadly wildfire ripped through a town insisted on August 16 that sounding emergency sirens would not have saved lives. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

By Gabriela Baron

The number of Filipinos who died due to the massive wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, has risen to three, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu confirmed.

Salvador Coloma, 77, was the third Filipino who had perished from the wildfires.

The Consulate said they are reaching out to the family of Coloma.

The two other confirmed Filipino casualties are Alfredo Galinato and Rodolfo Racunan.

“The Consulate is verifying the nationality of other reported casualties,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is urging relatives of affected Filipinos to contact the Consulate at its hotline number +1808 253-9446.

“This is needed for the Consulate to verify its records of reported Filipino casualties or other distressed Filipinos, and to provide assistance as required,” DFA said.

The DFA also vowed to provide assistance to the families of those affected by the wildfires.

The official death toll from the wildfires stands at 115, while over 1,000 individuals are still missing.

-ag

Popular

PAGASA now monitoring two cyclones inside PAR; habagat still drenches Luzon

By Brian Campued The low pressure area (LPA) west of extreme Northern Luzon developed into a tropical depression Wednesday morning and was given the name...

Planned Subic ammo plant ‘very important’ for U.S., PH —Trump   

By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency United States President Donald Trump underscored the strategic importance of the proposed ammunition manufacturing facility in Subic...

U.S. crisis team to assist PH disaster efforts —Teodoro

By Brian Campued The United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) has ordered the deployment of its crisis action team to the Philippines to support ongoing rescue...

PH-U.S. alliance key to South China Sea, Indo-Pacific stability —PBBM

By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the vital role of the Philippines-United States alliance in preserving peace...