Hawaii blaze killed another Filipino, says DFA exec

FILE PHOTO: 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 AugUST 11, 2023. (Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources/Handout via REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday reported that another Filipino died in the destructive wildfires in Hawaii.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega identified the victim as 76-year-old Rodolfo Rocutan.

Rocutan’s death brought the number of Filipinos killed in the catastrophe to two. The DFA confirmed the death of Alfredo Galinato, 79, originally from Ilocos but became a naturalized American citizen.

“Maui County officials released the identities of five more casualties of the August 8 wildfire in Lahaina. Among the five, the Philippine Consulate in Honolulu was able to verify that Mr. Rodolfo Rocutan, a resident of Lahaina, renewed his Philippine passport at the Consulate in 2022 and is thus confirmed to have been a Filipino citizen at the time of death,” said de Vega.

De Vega said Philippine Consul General in Honolulu Emilio Fernandez has reached out to a relative of Rocutan to convey his deepest sympathies and offer the Philippine government’s support and assistance, including cremation and repatriation of remains as requested.

The DFA official added they are still verifying reports of two more Filipino fatalities in the Hawaii wildfires in the wake of a viral social media post of Edna Sagudang, who claimed her family members — mother and brother — died in the blaze.

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