Pinoy, 77, added to list of Hawaii wildfire death
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said that Filipino casualties in Maui have increased to three after another Filipino was confirmed dead during the wildfire in Lahaina.
Foreign Affairs Spokeswoman Ma. Teresita Daza said the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu confirmed that another Filipino citizen, Salvador Coloma, 77, was a reported casualty of the fires in Maui.
She said the Consulate has reached out to a relative of Mr. Coloma to extend its profound condolences and to offer support and assistance.
The two other confirmed Filipino casualties of the wildfires in Maui are Alfredo Galinato and Rodolfo Racunan.
The Consulate is verifying the nationality of other reported casualties.
Daza said the Consulate’s records yielded negative results for Conchita Sagudang, 75, and Danilo Sagudang, 55. There is information online that they are from Abra province.
Online information likewise indicates Antonia Molina, 64, and Carlo Tobias, 54, as having relatives in the Philippines. However, the Consulate’s records also yielded negative results, she said.
The DFA urged relatives of affected Filipinos to contact the Consulate at its hotline number +1808 253-9446.
This is needed for the Consulate to verify its records of reported Filipino casualties or other distressed Filipinos, and to provide assistance as required, Daza stressed.
“Once again, the Philippine Government extends its deepest sympathies to the families of all the victims of the wildfires and will continue to provide assistance to the next of kin of Filipino nationals affected by this tragedy.”
More than 115 people have been found dead and more than 1,000 others remain unaccounted for after a wildfire engulfed the island two weeks ago.
