DFA: 75 Pinoys in Chile safe

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported yesterday that Filipinos in Chile are safe after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country on Saturday.

Philippine Ambassador to Chile Consuelo Puyat-Reyes said except for an ankle injury sustained by the husband of a Philippine embassy staff member, no Filipino was injured.

“There are 75 Filipinos in Chile, mostly priests, nuns, engineers, businessmen and spouses of Chilean nationals. There are no Filipino workers deployed in the country,” she said. There are seven officers and staff members in the embassy, including the ambassador.

Puyat-Reyes said that Chile is still feeling some aftershocks. There is little flooding due to the tsunami, while electricity, water and communications facilities are still down in the capital city of Santiago, where the embassy is located.

On Saturday, the DFA was able to contact by phone Minister Narciso Castañeda, who initially reported that the members of the embassy staff were safe.

The main quake in Chile lasted about 15 seconds, causing much damage to interiors of apartments and toppling household fixtures and other items. Smaller aftershocks were immediately felt after the main tremor hit.

Emergency services of the Chilean government have gone into full gear to attend to those affected and to restore basic services.

Meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Argentina reported that the quake in Chile was also felt in Buenos Aires and in other Argentinean provinces, especially those along the border with Chile.

Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang said no victims or damage to structures had so far been reported, despite the strong aftershocks which continue to be felt.

“The only recorded Filipinos in the provinces near the Chilean border are in Mendoza, notably four Society of the Divine Word priests and a Filipina married to an Argentinean national. We have spoken to Fr. Rupert Solis who assured us that he and his companions are all right. He was particularly appreciative of our phone call. The Filipina married to an Argentinean is on holiday in the Philippines with her husband and children, according to her in-laws,” Carandang said.

He added that the embassy advised the Filipino community through its coordinator and email network to take the necessary precautions and communicate with the embassy should further emergency situations arise.

Most Filipinos in Argentina are concentrated in the capital city of Buenos Aires.

Filipinos in Hawaii also took precautions following a tsunami warning.

Earlier, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu reported to the DFA that Consul General Leoncio Cardenas coordinated with state authorities and the leaders of the Filipino community in ensuring that their members have evacuated to high ground in anticipation of tsunami waves triggered by the Chile quakes.

Consul Paul Cortez said a number of consulate personnel and their families evacuated to the consulate premises, which are further inland and on high ground.

Hawaii state officials later rescinded the advisory after the tsunami waves turned out to be not immediately threatening to lives and properties.