The Philippine Embassy in Bangkok has belied earlier reports that 10 Filipinos died in the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that rocked Thailand and Myanmar on Friday. The tremors were als0 felt in adjoining areas including India and China.
In its latest advisory on Saturday, the Embassy called the report as “false information” and said it has yet to receive updates on Filipinos harmed in the disaster.
“As of this time, the Embassy has not received any report of Filipino nationals who were harmed by this unfortunate disaster. The Embassy continues to monitor the situation for any Filipino nationals who may have been affected and may need immediate assistance due to the earthquake,” it added.
Philippine envoy to Thailand, Ambassador Millicent Paredes, in a radio interview on Saturday, said no Filipinos have requested embassy assistance so far.
Paredes noted that many of Thailand’s population reside in high-rise buildings. “Fortunately, we have yet to receive information that they (Filipinos) are affected,” she said in Filipino.
Bangkok had been declared an emergency zone after the high magnitude that struck Myanmar affected the Thai capital. The embassy has advised Filipino nationals in Thailand to monitor updates from credible and verifiable sources of information, and avoid spreading “fake and unverified news.”
For emergencies, the embassy may be reached through the Assistance-to-Nationals hotline +66 81 989 7116 or e-mail at [email protected]. (PNA)
