A Police car is parked near the scene of an attack after a truck drove on to the sidewalk and plowed through a crowd of revelers who’d gathered to watch the fireworks in the French resort city of Nice, southern France, Friday, July 15, 2016. A spokesman for France’s Interior Ministry says there are likely to be “several dozen dead” after a truck drove into a crowd of revelers celebrating Bastille Day in the French city of Nice. AP Photo
The Philippine Embassy in France on Friday said it was still verifying the situation of Filipinos in the southern French city of Nice after a truck ploughed into a National Day crowd killing at least 80 people.
READ: At least 80 dead in France truck attack
In a text message, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose told INQUIRER.net that they “have not received report of any Filipino among those injured.”
In a radio interview, consul general Aileen Mendiola Rau said the French government’s crisis committee has yet to release the identities and nationalities of the casualties.
“Wala pang ibinibigay na names and nationalities ang French gov’t crisis committee ng mga fatality… Maya’t maya tinatawagan ko ang crisis committee at promise nila sa akin na as soon as mayroon na silang confirmed list, ibibigay nila,” Rau said over radio DZMM.
(The French government’s crisis committee has yet to release the names and nationalities of the fatalities. I’ve been calling the crisis committee and they promised to issue the confirmed list as soon as they have it.)
“Ine-expect din natin na may mga Pilipino sa labas pero sana wala doon sa lugar na pinangyarihan (We expect that there are Filipinos outside but hopefully they are not in the area of incident),” she added.
Rau said there are “a couple of hundreds” of Filipinos in Nice, majority of whom are household members.
At least 80 people were killed after a truck slammed into revelers watching a fireworks display for Bastille Day celebration.
READ: Nice attack: What we know so far
French President Francoise Hollande extended the state of emergency in the country for another three months and denounced the attack as a clear “terrorist” act. RAM/rga
READ: French president denounces third ‘terrorist’ act in 18 months