Department of Foreign Affairs. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said they are verifying four more reported Filipino fatalities following the Hawaii wildfires.
In a text message to INQUIRER.net on Thursday evening, de Vega said the number of confirmed deaths after the catastrophe is still two.
“[The number of confirmed deaths is] still 2 but there is a list of latest names of casualties released by Maui authorities and our Consulate is verifying their nationality. [We are] verifying reports that at least 4 other casualties were also Filipino,” said de Vega.
Earlier, the DFA stressed that they are “using official sources before confirming information such as reported passing.” However, if proven that these reported deaths are of Filipino nationality, the number of Filipino fatalities due to the incident would climb to six.
The DFA official did not provide the names of those whose deaths and nationalities are still being verified. But to recall, a social media post of a certain Edna Sagudang, who stated that her mother and brother were among those who died in the catastrophic fires, earlier became viral.
Meanwhile, the two confirmed Filipino fatalities are both elderly male. They were identified as follows:
- Alfredo Galinato, 79
- Rodolfo Rocutan, 76
The forest fires started spreading in Maui on August 8. Philippine Consul General in Honolulu Emilio Fernandez on Monday said the death toll following the fires has climbed to 114.