The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed this morning (Manila time) that a Philippine citizen was among those killed in the ongoing wildfires engulfing the Napa Valley area in Northern California, United States.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco (PCG) told the DFA in Manila that the Filipino casualty was found dead last Saturday. The DFA has not yet revealed the identity of the victim.
“We offer our sincere sympathies and prayers to the family of our kababayan (countryman) who perished in this horrific fire. I have instructed our Consulate General in San Francisco to offer all possible assistance to the family and to continue to closely monitor the welfare of other Filipinos in the affected areas,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement released today.
The PCG has offered assistance to the family of the victim for the repatriation of the body to the Philippines.
As of today, media reports that 41 have been killed so far in the wildfire that began last Oct. 8. At least 5,000 homes and 36,000 acres of land have also been destroyed. Authorities told local media that only about 70 percent of the fire has been contained as of today.
According to the PCG, at least 13,500 Filipinos live in Napa, Sonoma, and Yuba counties, the areas most affected by the wildfires, while 4,200 Filipinos live in the other areas like Lake, Marin and Mendocino counties.
