A FILIPINO NATIONAL is among the 644 missing persons after a devastating flood hit Nepal, but the Philippine government has yet to confirm the veracity of the report supposedly issued by the Nepal Tourism Board.
In a radio interview, Consul General Maria Cynthia Pelayo said they’re still seeking more information from the Nepali authorities about the reported missing Filipinos.
“Nung lumabas yung info, Congen sa Kathmandu agad nagrequest ng audience sa home minister to get info sa nawawala,” Pelayo said.
“We presume na dahil galing sa Nepal Tourism Board that the person is a tourist,” she added.
After the flash flood, Pelayo said that the consul coordinated with the Filipino community.
“Kahapon, nung lumabas ang balita, agad nakipag-ugnayan sa Filipino community in Nepal. We asked kung may nawawala; sabi nila, ‘We’re ok’,” Pelayo said.
Citing data from the Philippine Consulate, there are about 300 Filipinos in Nepal, mostly married to Nepali nationals.
Earlier on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro assured that the Philippine government is coordinating with Nepalese authorities and the Filipino community to determine whether any Filipinos were affected by the disaster.
Figures from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Castro showed 18 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Nepal.
Meanwhile, the DFA record only had 128 Filipinos in Nepal — most of whom are women married to Nepalese locals.
According to its Situation Update-3 released on Thursday, the Nepal Tourism Board said a Filipino national is among the 644 missing people following the devastating flash flood which took place at around 8:30 a.m. on August 26.
It added that all efforts are underway to rescue or evacuate the injured and stranded people.
A massive flash flood devastated the border of Nepal and Tibet, killing at least a hundred people, with hundreds more still missing.
