Three Filipinos lost lives in flash floods in UAE, says top Philippine official

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Three Filipinos died as a result of the typhoon and floods that slashed the UAE on late on Monday evening and throughout Tuesday.

Without identifying the victims, Philippine Labour Attache in Dubai and the Northern Emirates John Rio Bautista said that the deaths took place in Dubai and Sharjah as confirmed by police authorities.

Bautista also said that "two women died of suffocation inside their vehicle during the flood in Sharjah and a 47-year-old man succumbed to a fatal vehicular accident on Tuesday evening in Dubai.”

"Their relatives and the concerned public relations officers will be coordinating with us at the Migrant Workers Office-Dubai (MWO-Dubai) and the Philippine Consulate General-Dubai (PCGDXB) for the repatriation of the remains,” he added.

Gulf Today interviewed Bautista after the consular mission released a statement on Thursday regarding the two Philippine government agencies coordinating with authorities and relatives on the "reported deaths.”

Over in Metro Manila, Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Cacdac in a broadcast news had confirmed the receipt of information regarding the deaths. He assured that all assistance would be extended to their next-of-kin.

According to the press statement, the two government agencies are also fully operational and on the ground ”to ensure that affected Filipinos by the rains and floods, including those stranded at the airports are provided assistance” in coordination with local authorities.

Philippine Consulate General-Dubai and MWO-Dubai are responsible for the estimated 666,000 Filipinos in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

These expressed gratefulness over the strong Bayanihan (spirit of cooperation and unity) at work. This reporter also received updates and communications within the community as well as with other nationalities for assistance for transportation, shelter and food supplies.

For emergency purposes and contract verification, documented overseas Filipino workers including those who have yet to be certified for their employment are advised to contact MWO-Dubai over +971563535558 and +971505585536 or email [email protected].

For consular matters such as civil registry, passport and notarial concerns, +97142207100. Exchange students and scholars on their own, permanent residents, legitimate tourists and dual citizens needing assistance are advised to call +971565015756.