Pinoys trapped in collapsed NZ building now 14

MANILA, Philippines –  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported yesterday that the number of Filipinos believed to be still trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building has increased to 14 after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand last Tuesday.

DFA officials said that based on the reports of community leaders, the Filipinos were pinned down beneath the debris of the CTV building, which collapsed during the tremor.

The DFA had earlier reported that eight Filipino nurses were trapped in the collapsed building.

GMA News reported that believed trapped in the rubble of the CTV building were Jesse Lloyd Redoble, John Christopher Chua, Ezra Mae Medalle, Emmabel Anova, Jewel Francisco, Ivy JKane Cabunillas, Elisa Torres, Mary Louise Anne Amantillo, Valquin Bensurto, Rhea Mae Sumalpong, Erica Nora and Lalaine Agatep.

Missing in other areas near the CTV building were Rita Estrella and Hayley Concepcion.

New Zealand officials said they have started to shift operations from “rescue of victims” to “retrieval of bodies” as hopes dim in finding more survivors, three days after the disaster.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Eduardo Malaya said Philippine officials in Christchurch have asked the New Zealand government to resume rescue operations because there are indications that most of the 14 missing Filipinos are still alive.

The Philippine embassy in Wellington said that the two-man team arrived early yesterday morning at Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city, to check on the situation of the Filipino community there in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Philippine Charge d’Affaires Giovanni Palec said the team is coordinating with local authorities regarding the status of Filipinos reported to be missing.

The team requested that the search for the missing victims continue after some of the victims were able to send text messages to their relatives in the Philippines.

The DFA said there are around 2,000 Filipinos living in Christchurch and nearby areas.

“There are reports coming from relatives here which indicates that there may be Filipinos in the rubble of the CTV (Canterbury Television) building,” said Malaya, referring to one of the worst hit sites in central Christ­church.

The mission is looking into one report that a Filipina nurse sent a text message on Tuesday – the day of the quake – asking her mother for help while trapped under the fallen building, he said.