No Filipino casualty reported in Istanbul, Turkey blast

Members of a forensic team work after a strong explosion of unknown origin shook the busy shopping street of Istiklal in Istanbul, on November 13, 2022.  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “vile attack” that ripped through central Istanbul, and said it killed six people and wounded over 50 others, on November 13, 2022. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — There is no reported Filipino casualty in the explosion that rattled Istanbul, Turkey, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Monday.

“So far, the Embassy and Consulate General have not received any report of Filipino casualties,” the DFA said in a statement.

“The Philippine Embassy in Ankara and the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul express their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives at the explosion in Istanbul yesterday,” the DFA added.

The DFA committed to continue monitoring the situation and developments.

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Immediate response

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva appealed to the DFA and Department of Migrant Workers to immediately respond to the incident to ensure the safety of Filipinos.

“If this is confirmed to be an act of terrorism, then the agencies should remain vigilant and be prepared to attend to the safety of Filipinos in Istanbul.

“We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims of this heinous act,” Villanueva said in a separate statement.

The explosion that tore through a busy shopping street in Istanbul on Sunday killed six people and wounded dozens.

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “vile attack” and said that the move bore signs of a “terror” attack.

There are about 3,000 Filipinos in Istanbul, according to the DFA.

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