The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong is continuing its search for 13 Filipinos who remain unaccounted for following a devastating high-rise fire that ripped through a residential complex earlier this week.
Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr. confirmed in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo on Saturday that authorities are actively verifying the whereabouts of the 13 individuals who were registered residents of the fire-hit building.
“Ang hinahanap namin ngayon I think nasa 13 na lang for verification (We are still searching for 13, for verification),” Israel said.
The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, has resulted in a massive death toll.
Of the 83 Filipinos recorded in the government’s database as residing in the complex, 70 have been verified safe. This group includes individuals who had either returned to the Philippines or moved to a different address prior to the incident, according to Israel.
Philippine officials are also pursuing the possibility that at least one of the missing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) may be among the fatalities.
“May isang kababayan tayo na hinahanap. There’s a possibility na kasama nga sya dun sa mga nasawi (We are searching for one Filipino. There’s a possibility that she is among the deceased) but we are still verifying at this moment,” he told the radio station.
A family member, along with the OFW’s employer, is coordinating to check unidentified bodies at the morgue.
The Hong Kong fire has claimed 128 lives as of the latest report from authorities.
In terms of assistance, the Philippine envoy confirmed that affected Filipinos are currently staying in temporary shelters provided by the Hong Kong government.
The Consulate is also working to ensure long-term stability, noting plans to “rehome” workers and provide opportunities to look for new employment if they cannot be re-absorbed by their previous employers.
Meanwhile, Filipina who was previously admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to injuries sustained in the fire is now reported to be in stable condition.
