Pinoy seafarer still missing after Beirut blast —Philippine embassy

The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon on Thursday said that a Filipino seafarer is still missing after the explosions in Beirut on Wednesday.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Philippine Embassy in Lebanon Charge D'Affaires Ajeet Panemanglor said the other missing sailors were already found.

“May isa pa pong nawawala. Dalawa po ang namatay, sa kasamaang palad. Sa ngayon 24 po 'yung sugatan, kabilang na doon 'yung napabalitang nawawalang seafarers pero ngayon nahanap po,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that 10 of the 11 seafarers who were reporeted missing after explosions rocked Beirut have been found and were safe with their employer.

Panemanglor said some of the wounded Filipinso are still in hospitals, while some are already staying in hotels. The embassy is monitoring their condition and visiting them, he added.

“Kinontak din po namin ang mga pamilya, kamag-anak ng lahat ng sugatan. Pati din po 'yung mga nasawi para ipaalam 'yung kalagayan ng kanilang kamag-anak dito,” he said.

“Gagawin po ng embahada ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya upang mapauwi sa lalong madaling panahon 'yung labi ng dalawang kababayan na nasawi,” he added.

He noted that the embassy cannot coordinate with government offices now as Lebanon declared a day of national mourning, but assured the public they will  work on the repatriation once the operation resumes.

There are 33,000 Filipinos working in Lebanon, mostly women and household service workers, according to the embassy.

Panemanglor said he was in the embassy when the explosions happened. According to him, the embassy is far from the port where the explosions occurred but they still felt the shock waves.

“Tanaw namin 'yung buong siyudad mula sa bintana. So nakita namin 'yung mismong pagsabog at kahit na medyo malayo po kami sa city center, naramdaman po namin 'yung shock wave noong pagsabog,” he said.

“Kung kami po ay nasa malayo, naramdaman namin 'yung shockwave, nai-imagine ko na lang po kung ano ‘yung karanasan noong malalapit doon sa port,” he said.

Lebanese authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion, but said it is likely that highly explosive ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the port was the cause of the blast.

At least 100 people died in the explosion, according to the Lebanese Red Cross. Nearly 4,000 were injured when an explosion in Beirut's port area sent shock waves in the city. —LBG, GMA News