Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 11) — No Filipinos have been affected by the devastating wildfires on the island of Maui in Hawaii, a foreign affairs official said on Friday.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said the Philippine government is monitoring the situation, but there are no reports so far of Filipinos hurt or killed.
“Remember, ang mga Pilipino nagtatrabaho sa main cities. Eh forest fire yun [Remember, Filipinos work in the main cities. What happened was a forest fire],” he noted.
At least 53 people have died in the wildfires that have been scorching Maui for three days, CNN reported. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
The blaze – which also destroyed hundreds of buildings – is the second deadliest in the United States in a century, next to California’s Camp Fire in 2018 which killed 85 people.
