DMW moves to repatriate remains of 3 OFWs who died in UAE flood

Cars drive in a flooded street following heavy rains in Dubai on April 17, 2024. Dubai, the Middle East’s financial center, has been paralyzed by the torrential rain that caused floods across the UAE and Bahrain and left 18 dead in Oman on April 14 and 15. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday said they are aiming to repatriate the remains of the three Filipinos who died in the widespread flooding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on or before April 27.

Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Labor Attaché in Dubai John Rio Bautista disclosed the matter in a virtual press briefing, saying there’s a thorough process for doing so.

“Ang proseso natin ay kailangan muna nating matanggap ang forensic report and then we will request for the notice of no objection,” said Bautista.

(Our process is that we first need to receive the forensic report, and then we will request the notice of no objection.)

Afterward, Bautista said the MWO would then apply for the death certificates of the deceased Filipinos. Once the documents are finalized, a certain provider will schedule the flight of the remains.

But Bautista said they are aiming to repatriate the bodies on or before April 27 “to avoid any complications.”

“Ang ating tinitignan dito… ang target natin ay on or before April 27 ay makauwi ang mga bangkay ng ating mga kababayan. Sapagkat yun pong anak ng isa sa mga namatay ay on a visit visa — hanggang April 28 lamang po ang validity ng kanyang visa,” said Bautista.

(What we are looking at is that we are targeting the repatriation of the bodies on or before April 27. Because one of those who died has a child who’s only on a visit visa. The child’s visit visa is only valid until April 28.)

Migrant Workers Officer in Charge Hans Cacdac on April 18 disclosed the deaths of the three Dubai-based Filipinos.

According to Cacdac, two of the overseas Filipino workers died due to suffocation inside their vehicle during the flood, while the other OFW died due to a vehicular accident.

READ: DMW: 3 Filipinos dead due to flooding in UAE

A torrential downpour on April 16 reportedly brought 254 millimeters of rain to the United Arab Emirates. International reports said it was the highest rainfall since records began in 1949, before the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971.