PH expresses condolences, is ready to help Myanmar, Thailand after earthquake

The Philippines condoles with Myanmar and Thailand and is ready to help as casualties were reported after a powerful earthquake struck Friday, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.

"Nakikiramay tayo sa mga kaibigan, kapitbahay natin sa Myanmar at Thailand," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(We would like to convey our condolences to our friends and neighbors — Myanmar and Thailand.)

The quake, which had a magnitude of 7.7 according to the US Geological Survey, had its epicenter at about 17.2 km from the city of Mandalay in Myanmar. It was followed minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock. Tremors were also felt in Thailand, and a 30-storey building under construction collapsed in Bangkok.

More than 140 were killed in Myanmar, and the number is expected to rise, according to a Reuters report.

The Philippine embassies in Yangon and in Thailand said there were no Filipino casualties as of Friday.

De Vega said the two embassies are contacting the Filipino communities to check on them.

"Wala pang report na may nasawing buhay [na Pilipino] at sana manatiling ganoon," he said.

(There is no report yet of Filipino casualties and we hope that will remain.)

De Vega said there are 600 Filipinos in Myanmar and they are far from the epicenter. Meanwhile, about 29,000 Filipinos are in Thailand, and they are farther away from the epicenter, he added.

"Nag-issue ng advisory sa mga Pilipino ang mga Embahada ng Pilipinas sa Myanmar at Thailand to remain calm and vigilant and monitor updates," he said.

(The Philippine embassies in Myanmar and Thailand issues advisories to Filipino nationals to remain calm and vigilant and monitor updates.)

"The Embassy is gathering current and credible information on the status of all affected Filipinos in Myanmar in order to determine resources necessary to assist them, including the deployment of a team on the ground to conduct welfare checks on them. Those who require relocation or repatriation will also be assessed and assisted," the Philippine Embassy in Myamar said.

"Hindi pa natin alam ang extent ng damage. So far, walang Pilipinong nasawi... Kung may mga gustong umuwi dahil rito, tutulangan natin," the DFA official said.

(We still do not know the extent of damage. So far, no Filipino died. If anyone wants to go home to the Philippines, we will help him/her.)

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said for their part, the migrants workers' office in Bangkok is also ready to provide assistance to OFWs.

Cacdac added the agency continues to be "in touch" with the Filipino community in the two countries affected by the quake.

De Vega urged Filipinos needing assistance to contact the Philippine Embassy in Thailand at hotline +66 81 989 7116 or the Philippine Embassy in Yangon at hotline +95 998 521 0991.

PEMAT

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa immediately instructed three Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams (PEMAT) to be ready to be deployed once international coordination protocols with the two countries have been completed and a request has been received.

"We are continuously in touch with the Office of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for further instructions as the Philippines coordinates with its earthquake stricken ASEAN neighbors," Herbosa said, according to a press release issued Saturday by the Department of Health (DOH).

The three PEMATs from Metro Manila, Luzon, and Visayas, which are Type 1 Fixed EMTs, can provide daylight hours care for acute trauma and non-trauma presentations and referrals, the DOH said.

They can also do ongoing health investigation or care and community-based primary care in an outpatient fixed facility.

The said PEMATS have previously assisted Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake in 2023.

"The DOH can send our PEMAT should there be a need for humanitarian medical assistance in Myanmar and Thailand. We are ready," Herbosa said. —KG, GMA Integrated News