2 Pinoy patay sa Turkey quake, 34 iba pa inilikas

DALAWANG  Pinoy na una nang naibalitang nawawala sa magnitude 7.8 na lindol sa Turkey ang kumpirmadong nasawi sa Antakya, pero sa kabutihang palad ay natuklasang buhay naman ang isa sa mga nawawala.

Una nang ibinalita ng grupong Filipino Community in Turkey na tatlong Pilipina ang hindi mahagilap matapos ang lindol, bagay na pumatay na sa 21,000 katao sa Turkey at Syria.

“[It] is with deepest regret that the Embassy must inform the public of the passing of two Filipinos, both earlier reported to be missing in Antakya,” wika ng Philippine Embassy in Türkiye, Biyernes.

“The Embassy and Consulate General express their deepest condolences and are in coordination with th victims’ families in both the Philippines and in Turkiye.”

Patuloy naman daw na inaabot ng embahada ang pinakamaraming Pilipino sa naturang bansa habang kinikilala ang suporta ng local Filipipino community leaders at kanilang network.

Sinasabing nasa 4,006 Pilipino ang nasa naturang bansa.

“Through collective action, a previously reported missing individual in Antakya was discovered to be alive,” dagdag pa nila.

“The team will continue to exhaust all efforts to account for Filipinos in affected regions.”

Kasalukuyang pinangungunahan ni Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Elena Algabre ang susunod na yugto ng relief, rescue at evacuation operations sa timogsilangang Turkey.

Ilan sa mga kasama ni Algabre ang consul general, Office of the Philippine Defense at Armed Forces Attache, tauhan ng Philippine Embassy sa Ankara, Philippine consulate general sa Istanbul at isang lokal na Filipino volunteer.

“The team has successfully evacuated more than 10 Filipino families from the city of Antakya in Hatay province, one of the hardest-hit cities in a region suffering from much devastation,” dagdag pa nila.

“The families are currently being shuttled back to Ankara, Turkiye’s capital, where they will be sheltered.”

Ani Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Teresita Daza, 34 Filipino evacuees, kanilang mga asawa at anak ang siyang nailikas na patungong Ankara.

Isa pang koponan ng embahada ang magpapatuloy sa misyon mula Mersin upang tignan ang kalagayan ng iba pang mga Pinoy na kinakailangan ng tulong sa ngayon.

Nagpaabot naman ng kanyang pakikiramay si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa sinapit ng dalawang nasawi sa insidente, ito ilang araw matapos niyang ianunsyo ang Philippine team na ipinadala para tumulong sa search, rescue and relief operations.

“It is with deep regret that we learn of the passing of two Filipinos in the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake that devastated Türkiye,” sabi niya.

“The Philippine Embassy continues to work tirelessly to verify any and all information on Filipinos affected by the quake.” (Daris Jose)