Affected Filipinos due to LA wildfires nearly 200 —consul

Nearly 200 Filipinos in Los Angeles, California have now lost their homes amid the massive wildfires ravaging the southern portion of the US state.

Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Angelito Cruz said the number of Filipinos affected by the ongoing LA wildfires has jumped to 191 and may still continue to increase in the coming days.

“Sa ngayon po ang huling tala namin ay umabot na ng 191 dahil may humingi na pong tulong na 12 pamilya at inaasahan po namin na ito’y tataas pa po sa darating na mga araw,” Cruz said in an Unang Balita interview.

(Currently, our latest tally has reached 191 as 12 more families asked for help. We expect this number to increase in the coming days.)

Despite this, the official assured the public that the affected Filipinos who were transferred to evacuation centers in the city were all safe.

“Sa ngayon, karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay nasa iba’t ibang evacuation centers all over LA county. Lahat naman po sila ay naaalagaan dahil bumubuhos po ang pagdating ng pagkain at iba’t ibang mga essential requirements nila. So sila po’y safe at alagang alaga,” he added.

(Most of our affected compatriots are now in different evacuation centers all over LA county. They are all being taken care of because the arrival of food and various necessities is pouring in. So they are safe and well taken care of.)

Cruz said that Philippine officials in LA have to check if the burned houses of affected Filipinos were included in the housing insurance.

He also said that the death toll due to the wildfires has increased from 16 to 24, but he has not yet received any confirmation if any of the fatalities were Filipinos.

“Sa ngayon, hindi pa makapagbigay ng pahayag ang mga LA county coroner's office sapagkat natupok po ang mga bangkay at kakailanganin pa ng mga DNA tests. Aabutin daw ng mga ilang linggo bago makapag-release sila ng opisyal na listahan,” the consul general explained.

(Right now, the LA county coroner's office has not been able to make a statement yet because the bodies were burned and DNA tests will be needed. They said it will take a few weeks before they can release an official list of fatalities.)

Filipinos and Filipino Americans affected by the widespread wildfires have appealed for help as their homes were destroyed.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meanwhile, had expressed his sympathies to Filipinos in California who were affected by the massive wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes.

Filipinos requiring assistance may contact the Consulate at (323) 528-1528.—AOL, GMA Integrated News