Partner of OFW killed in Kuwait fire recalls his plea for help

One of the three overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who perished in a fire in Kuwait was on a video call with his partner as the blaze gutted the building.

According to JP Soriano's report on "24 Oras," Ronalyn Villarmino recalled how her partner, Edwin Petilla, pleaded for help amid the inferno.

"Mommy, mommy nasusunog yung building namin. Tapos kumukuha na sila ng mga gamit, tapos lumabas sila ng kwarto nila, tapos doon na po nagsimula ng sigawan. Naririnig ko po yung sigawan, yung mommy di na ako makahinga," said Ronalyn. 

"Nawala na sila sa linya naririnig ko an lang yung hikahos," she added. 

Ronalyn mourned as she is pregnant with their first baby.  

"Masakit kasi may pangarap kami tapos biglang ganito. Masaya pa siya na gusto niyang makita baby niya. Yung gabi na bago siya matulog sabi niya Mommy mahal na mahal kita, I love you, ingatan mo si baby ah," she said in tears. 

Some of the OFWs affected by the fire escaped through the rooftop of the building.

"Pagbukas ng door namin sa kwarto, tinawag ko mga kasama ko, amoy sunog. Sa 6th floor. Wala ng ilaw," said OFW Mario Bruce. 

He then immediately went to collect his documents, but when he returned, his colleagues were no longer around. 

"Pagbalik ko wala na yung kasama ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan sila nagpunta, makapal yung usok, maitim, ang lakas ng ihip. Kabadong-kabado na ako. Di ko alam kung saan pupunta ako. Nag-attempt ako bumaba hanggang 4th floor," he said. 

He ended up in a room with blankets and cloth that he had tied together to use for jumping.

As he was about to jump, a colleague saw him and said he knew a safer escape route.

Bruce said they stayed on the rooftop for two hours before being evacuated, along with other survivors who are now in good condition. 

Two OFWs are still in the ICU and are being monitored by the Department of Migrant Workers.

Earlier, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Arnel Ignacio said the process for the repatriation of the remains of the three OFWs has already started, the government said Friday. 

Kuwaiti authorities earlier said three people had been detained for suspected manslaughter over the fire incident.

At least 49 people were killed in the fire, while scores were injured, the Kuwait Interior Ministry earlier reported. 

Many of the dead and injured suffocated from smoke inhalation after being trapped in the building by the blaze, according to an Agence France-Presse's source in the fire department.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News