No reports of Pinoys affected so far due to Hurricane Helene —PH Embassy

LOS ANGELES, California - The Philippine Embassy in Washington said it has not received any report yet of Filipinos affected by Hurricane Helene in the US southeast, but they are closely monitoring.

Nearly 300,000 Filipinos are living in areas affected by the destructive Hurricane Helene.

“So far, the Embassy in Washington, D.C. has not received any reports of Filipinos affected by Hurricane Helene,” Mark Dominic Lim of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. said in a message to GMA Integrated News.

"The Embassy continues to closely monitor the situation together with the Philippine Honorary Consulates in Florida and Georgia and remains ready to extend any necessary assistance to affected Filipinos," he added.

The Philippine Embassy added it is prepared to provide assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Helene, which has ravaged a large portion of the southeastern United States.

The hurricane has severely affected the Big Bend region in Florida, as well as parts of Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, made landfall in Perry, Florida, with winds up to 225 kilometers per hour. It is said to be the strongest hurricane to strike the Big Bend.

The United States Northern Command has been deployed to assist in the affected areas, while the Department of Defense remains prepared to support affected communities.

The Florida National Guard mobilized 3,900 guardsmen, 450 tactical vehicles, 13 helicopters, and six boats for emergency response in 21 counties across the state, the Pentagon's Deputy Press Secretary said in an email to GMA Integrated News.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. meanwhile urged Filipinos affected by Hurricane Helene to immediately contact the embassy or relevant authorities for assistance.

Search, rescue, and recovery operations continue as the death toll continues to rise. —KG, GMA Integrated News