THE Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu on Wednesday said it still does not have an official count of how many Filipino and Filipino Americans are still missing, two weeks after the devastating wildfires that hit Lahaina, Maui.
Consul General Emil Fernandez said there could possibly be around 100 Filipino and Filipino-American individuals among the over 850 people
who were reported missing.
According to him, they are currently in the process of verifying names that sound Filipino on the unofficial list created by the Maui community for those reported missing.
“There is no data available from Maui County Official… On the part of the Philippine Consulate, we are comparing Filipino-sounding names appearing in the Maui community-organized Maui Fires People Locator, which has 724 entries as of this morning, with our consular records,” Fernandez said, in an interview with GMA News.
“We are also in touch with contacts in the Filipino community in Maui regarding missing Filipinos so we can come up with a better estimate. Information coming from local authorities in Maui is quite limited, which is understandable given the scale of this unprecedented disaster,” he added.
The Consul General said he has met with the US Department of State’s Office of Foreign Mission to seek assistance in obtaining information
about the missing individuals.
“They said that if they learn about foreign nationals in shelters, they will advise the foreign consulate. Secondly, when they become aware that there are foreign nationals among the casualties, the foreign consulate will be advised,” Fernandez said.
The search and recovery team has completed a 100% search of single-story residential properties. They will now transition to searching multi-story residential and commercial properties.
Fernandez stressed the Consulate is ready to assist Filipino citizens or Filipino immigrants who need medical or financial assistance. The Consulate will also assist Filipinos who are US citizens who require repatriation of remains back to the Philippines or who are searching for their families.
The Philippine Consulate General’s office in Honolulu extends its condolences to the families of the victims.
“I just want to reiterate my profound condolences to the relatives and friends who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. The accounts of our fellow countrymen losing their homes and belongings, even their neighbors and friends, are truly devastating and heartbreaking. The Consulate personnel will do what we can to help those affected. We will return by the end of September with a larger team and will stay there for longer periods, coming back as many times as necessary to assist everyone,” Fernandez said.
Authorities have so far identified four Filipino and Filipino-American fatalities, namely: Rodolfo Rocutan, 76, immigrant from Ilocos; Alfredo Galinato, 79, immigrant from Ilocos; Conchita Sagudang, 75, Abra; and Danilo Sagudang, 55, Abra.
As ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Consulate in Honolulu will undertake all necessary actions to help Filipinos affected by the wildfires.