Courtesy: Science News
Yangon, Myanmar – Four Filipinos remain unaccounted for following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, according to a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official. The revelation comes as the death toll in Myanmar surpasses 1,600, according to a Reuters report.
The DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, Eduardo de Vega, confirmed the missing Filipinos in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
He stated that two of the missing individuals are a married couple whose residence building collapsed during the quake. The other two are also professionals, working as either teachers or office workers.
De Vega highlighted the dire situation in Myanmar, emphasizing the country’s plea for international aid. He urged Filipinos to pray for their compatriots affected by the disaster.
In contrast, he reported no Filipino casualties in neighboring Thailand, which also experienced the earthquake’s tremors, attributing this to the lack of significant building collapses in Thailand. The situation in Thailand, he said, is returning to normalcy.
The Philippine government is actively responding to the crisis, mobilizing humanitarian aid for Myanmar.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) convened a critical inter-agency meeting to coordinate the nation’s relief efforts. Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chairman Gilberto Teodoro Jr. expressed solidarity with Myanmar, stating the Philippines’ readiness to provide urgent assistance.
OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the government’s commitment to aiding Myanmar, drawing from its experience in assisting Turkey and Syria after their recent earthquakes.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has proactively instructed three Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams (PEMAT) to prepare for deployment to Myanmar, pending international coordination and a formal request from the Myanmar government.
These teams previously provided aid to Turkey following its devastating earthquake earlier this year.
De Vega announced plans to deploy approximately 10 individuals to Myanmar to assist in rescue operations.
He also provided contact information for Filipinos requiring assistance: the Philippine Embassy in Thailand (+66 81 989 7116) and the Philippine Embassy in Yangon (+95 998 521 0991).
The ongoing search for the missing Filipinos underscores the human cost of the earthquake and highlights the international collaborative efforts underway to provide relief and support to the affected regions.
The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
The Philippine government’s swift response demonstrates its commitment to assisting its citizens abroad and supporting affected nations during times of crisis.
