3 OFWs killed in Qatar mall fire worked for school

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday identified the three overseas Filipino workers who were among several foreign nationals killed in a fire that ripped through an upscale shopping mall in Qatar on Monday.

Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Doha, Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson, named the OFW fatalities as Maribel Orosco, Margie Yecyec and Julie Ann Soco.

“They all died of smoke inhalation in a fire which gutted the Villagio Mall in Doha. The three OFWs were employees of Gympanzee Nursery School,” which is based in the shopping center, Hernandez said.

Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Cresente Relacion reported to the home office that there were 19 confirmed casualties, including the three OFWs.

“Another OFW, Michael Orosco, a brother of Maribel, is being treated for smoke inhalation at Hamad Hospital. He is reportedly out of danger,” Relacion said.

According to the envoy, “the fire was reportedly caused by faulty electrical wiring. It started at about 11 a.m. Tuesday.”

“Our embassy will coordinate with the authorities to facilitate the shipment of the remains of the three OFW-victims. The embassy will also make representations with the management of the mall and the owner of the school for possible death benefits,” Relacion said.

Reports from Doha said 13 children were among the 19 people killed in the fire that hit one of  the country’s fanciest shopping malls, raising questions about building safety in the booming Gulf state.

At least some of the victims died as rescuers struggled to reach a child care center in the Villaggio mall in the capital Doha, according to Qatar’s Minister of State for Interior Affairs, Sheik Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani.

“We tried our best, but when we got there, the children were trapped inside. We are very sorry for what happened. We tried as much as we could to save these people,” Sheik Abdullah told reporters in Doha.

Four of the children killed were Spanish citizens living in the small Arab emirate, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said.

Also, a 3-year-old French child was among the victims, the deputy minister for overseas French citizens, Yamina Benguigui, said in a statement.

Two-year-old New Zealand triplets, Lillie, Jackson and Willsher Weekes, were also among the victims, according to New Zealand media reports. With an AP report

Originally posted: 4:16 pm | Tuesday, May 29th, 2012