PH consul general: No requests for repatriation after Hawaii wildfires
The shells of burned houses and buildings are left after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, US Aug/ 11, 2023. (Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources/Handout via REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — Emergency consular services in Maui have ended, said Philippine Consul General in Honolulu Emilio Fernandez, adding that Filipinos made no requests for repatriation in Hawaii after the catastrophic wildfires.
In a message to INQUIRER.net, Fernandez said that while no repatriation requests were made, most wildfire-stricken Filipinos have sought assistance after losing their homes and belongings.
“A team from the Philippine Consulate in Honolulu was in Maui on August 15 and 16, providing emergency consular services to 66 people. Attended were Filipinos, principally residents of Lahaina, who had lost their homes and belongings, including their Philippine passports. There was no request for repatriation,” said Fernandez on Monday.
The consul general said the two-day consular services in Maui have concluded, but he added that another team will return to the area in September to assist those in need.
Citing data from Maui County officials, Fernandez said the death toll from the fires has climbed to 114.
Among the identified casualties Alfredo Galinato, 79, a naturalized United States Citizen from Ilocos.
The other fatalities were as follows:
- Melva Benjamin, 71
- Virginia Dofa, 90
- Robert Dyckman, 74
- Buddy Jantoc, 79
- Donna Gomes, 71
“All are residents of Lahaina. Another four victims were identified, but their families have not been located or informed,” said Fernandez.
According to the consul general, about 60 percent of the restricted area in Lahaina has now been searched for bodies. As of August 18, firefighters in Maui have also contained 89 percent of the Lahaina fire, 80 percent of the Kula fire, and 100 percent of the Pulehu fire.
“The three wildfires have so far burned an estimated five square miles,” Fernandez added.
