No Filipinos among casualties of ‘Isang’ in HK and Macau–DFA

Debris caused by Typhoon Hato damage is strewn across the waterfront of Victoria Habour in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. A powerful typhoon barreled into Hong Kong on Wednesday, forcing offices and schools to close and leaving flooded streets, shattered windows and hundreds of canceled flights in its wake. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

No Filipinos were among the casualties of Typhoon Isang (international name Hato) in Hong Kong and Macau, China, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Thursday.

“We are saddened by reports of the destructive effects of Typhoon Hato on Hong Kong and Macau,” Cayetano said in a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Typhoon Isang has been battering Hong Kong, Macau and south China since Wednesday, as it killed at least 10 people, destroyed skyscrapers and flooded streets in the country. 

“We send condolences to the families of the (initial) three who lost their life and messages of suport for the injured,” Cayetano added.

The DFA cited initial reports from Consul General Lilibeth Deapera of the Philippine Consulate in Macau and Deputy Consul General Roderico Atienza of the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong which stated that there are no Filipino nationals among the casualties or injured by the typhoon.

Hong Kong Observatory raised its highest alert, storm signal number 10, over the Special Administrative Region, which is the first time since 2012 and only the third time since 1997, DFA said.

READ: Hong Kong raises highest warning for Severe Typhoon Hato

According to DFA, there are more than 211,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong and almost 30,000 in Macau.

“The Consulates General are continuously monitoring the situation and are ready to provide all possible consular assistance to any Filipino who may be affected,” DFA said.  

READ: 10 dead as typhoon smashes into Macau, Hong Kong and south China