DMW: No OFWs reported hurt in latest Taiwan earthquakes

No overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were injured following the series of earthquakes that hit Taiwan early Tuesday morning, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said, citing initial reports. 

The DMW said it has placed its Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in Taiwan on alert after magnitudes 6.0 and 6.3 earthquakes rocked the Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 2:26 a.m. and 2:32 a.m.

“Initial reports from Filipino communities and leaders in Hualien County says MWO-Taipei indicate no overseas Filipino workers injured,” the agency said.

The DMW also said the MWOs are now coordinating with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) to reach out to other Filipino communities, local authorities, employers, and trade associations to determine the status of the OFWs.

MECO chairman Silvestre Bello III said that there are almost 200,000 Filipinos in Taiwan, while around 1,400 Filipinos are specifically in Hualien. 

He also said that they are already used to the earthquakes that usually happen in Taiwan. 

“Hindi gaano kalakas [ang lindol]. Ang pinakalamakas ay [magnitude] 6.5 sa Hualien County… Sa ibang parte, ang maximum, [magnitude] 5.0,” Bello said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(It was not that strong. The strongest was magnitude 6.5 that hit Hualien County. In other parts of Taiwan, the maximum was magnitude 5.0.) 

On April 3, Taiwan was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which left 16 OFWs hurt. 

The DMW said all 16 Filipinos have received medical treatment and have been discharged from hospitals.

“There are no reported injuries or fatalities, we hope it stays that way. There are 16 injured, all minor, and all have recovered and are in stable condition,” said Cacdac in another conference. 

He added that a thousand victims have been provided relief goods, and the operations are ongoing. —KBK/ VAL GMA Integrated News