Injured Filipinos in Beirut blast rise to 24 — DFA

THE number of injured Filipinos in the powerful explosion in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday rose to 24, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday.

The Philippine Embassy in Beirut, reported on Wednesday that two Filipinos were killed and eight others were hurt – mostly domestic workers – during the explosion that ripped through downtown Lebanon’s capital.

The embassy reported to the DFA headquarters that “except for one critical, all injured in stable condition or minor wounds.”

DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said there was still one Filipino missing following the blast. “[The] Search for missing OFW (overseas Filipino worker is) ongoing,” he said on Twitter.

The Foreign Affairs department also said that all 13 Filipino seafarers reported missing “are safe and accounted for.”

“Our Embassy in Beirut has ascertained the conditions of all the 13 Filipino seafarers who were injured in the blasts that rocked the city recently,” said DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola.

Eleven of the 13 seafarers were reported missing following the blasts.

Philippine Embassy Beirut Charge d’affaires Ajeet Panemanglor visited eight of the seafarers staying at the company accommodations. Five were at the hospital for another medical check-up.

They are now with the management of the shipping company Abu Merhi Cruises at Ain el Mraiseh, Beirut that operates Orient Queen cruises.

They were part of a group of 13 Filipino seafarers whose ship was docked some 400 meters away from the blast zone, the embassy said in a statement.

There are about 33,000 Filipinos in Lebanon, 75 percent of whom are in the greater Beirut area.

Source: TheManila Times