2 Pinoys among 21,000 dead in Turkiye-Syria killer quake

Manila, Philippines – Two Filipinos were killed in the Ankatya district of Hatay province in Turkiye following the killer 7.7-magnitude on Feb. 6.

This was confirmed by the Philippine Embassy in Turkiye Friday.

They were among the more than 21,000 fatalities recorded in a killer earthquake that struck Turkiye and Syria three days ago.

“(I)t is with deepest regret that the Embassy must inform the public of the passing of two Filipinos, both earlier reported to be missing in Antakya,” the embassy said in a statement.

“The Embassy and Consulate General express their deepest condolences and are in coordination with the victims’ families in both the Philippines and in Turkiye,” it added.

Meanwhile, the embassy clarified that the Filipina who was earlier reported killed in the same province was recovered alive.

The embassy likewise assured the public that its team on the ground would continue to account for Filipinos in the affected region.

The embassy said as of Friday, it has evacuated more than 10 Filipino families in Antakya, one of the hardest-hit areas in southeast Turkiye.

The families are en route to Ankara where they will be sheltered.

It added that the Philippine humanitarian contingent from Manila, who arrived in Istanbul on Feb. 9, will also be deployed to Gaziantep to join the search and rescue efforts.

Meanwhile in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Government sent a 59-strong search and rescue team to the quake-stricken areas in Türkiye to assist in the search and rescue work.

Acting Chief Executive Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung saw the search and rescue team off at the airport. Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam was also there to show support to the team.

Led by Fire Services Department (FSD) Deputy Chief Fire Officer Yiu Men-yeung, the team comprises 49 members of the FSD’s Urban Search & Rescue Team, which includes firemen, ambulancemen and fire services workshops personnel as well as officers from the Security Bureau, the Immigration Department and the Department of Health.

The team is taking eight tonnes of equipment which includes life detectors, masonry cutting machines and the team’s daily necessities.

They left on Turkish Airlines flight TK071 and will join local rescue teams to start search and rescue work on arrival.