DFA verifying reports some Filipinos trapped in Hong Kong fire

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said the Philippine Consulate General received unverified reports that some Filipinos were trapped in the deadly Hong Kong fire.

"May na-receive sila na unverified information na posibleng may mga Filipino pa na na-trap sa mga building at agad-agad nilang sinabi ito sa mga awtoridad," said DFA spokesperson Asec. Angelica Escalona in an interview on Unang Balita. 

(They received unverified information that there may be more Filipinos trapped in the buildings, and they immediately reported this to the authorities.)

She added that no Filipino has been confirmed dead or injured in the fire so far.

"As of this time, ayon sa ating Consul General, wala pa po," she added.

(As of this time, according to our Consul General, there is none yet.)

Efforts ongoing

In a separate statement, Escalona 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.

“Efforts by the Hong Kong Fire Services Department to contain the fire are still ongoing,” she said.

“Due to the scale and intensity of the fire, it will take time before the extent of the damage and number and nationality of the victims are fully determined,” she added.

In an advisory, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) called on Filipinos in Hong Kong to report to concerned Philippine offices if they know fellow Pinoys who are affected by the fire.

“Ang Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, Migrant Workers Office Hong Kong at OWWA Hong Kong ay nanawagan sa mga kababayan natin dito sa Hong Kong na ipagbigay alam kaagad sa aming tanggapan kung may alam silang kababayan natin na apektado sa sunog sa Tai Po,” the DMW said.

(The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, Migrant Workers Office Hong Kong and OWWA Hong Kong call on our countrymen here in Hong Kong to immediately inform our office if they know any Pinoys affected by the fire in Tai Po.)

Philippine agencies can be reached at the following contact numbers and email address:

• PCG Hong Kong : +852 9155 4023
• MWO-Hong Kong : +852 5529 1880 and mwo_hongkong@dmw.gov.ph
• OWWA-Hong Kong : +852 6345 9324 / +852 9180 4920

44 Dead

has killed at least 44 people and left almost 300 missing may have been spread by unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work, police said on Thursday.

Hours after the fire started in the northern Tai Po district, flames and thick smoke still engulfed the 32-storey towers where many people were believed trapped inside

The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, but it was fanned by green construction mesh and bamboo scaffolding - a mainstay of traditional Chinese architecture but subject to a phase-out in Hong Kong since March for safety reasons.

Police arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter over the fire, public broadcaster RTHK said, without giving more details.

Hong Kong's Transport Department said that due to the fire, an entire section of the Tai Po Road, one of Hong Kong's two main highways, had been closed and buses were being diverted.

At least six schools will be closed on Thursday due to the fire and traffic congestion, the city's Education Bureau said.

It was Hong Kong's worst fire since 41 people died in a commercial building in the Kowloon district in November 1996. That fire was caused by welding during internal renovations. —VAL, GMA Integrated News