A FILIPINA and her three children who have been missing since a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and neighboring Syria on February 6 have been found dead, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara said.
The four were among the more than 41,000 fatalities in the massive earthquake.
“It is with deepest regret that the embassy must confirm the passing of a Filipina housewife and her three children, previously reported to be missing under the rubble in Antakya,” the embassy said in a statement issued late Sunday.
The embassy said the Turkish husband of the Filipina decided to have their remains buried in Turkey.
“She and her children have been laid to rest by her Turkish husband, in accordance with Turkish tradition. The Embassy and the entire Department of Foreign Affairs express their deepest condolences for this tragedy,” the statement added.
A Filipino who was previously reported missing in Antakya was found alive last week.
But the DFA earlier announced that two Filipinos died following the devastating earthquake.
The embassy said it will continue to stay focused on providing assistance to Filipinos affected by the quake, adding its shelter in Ankara is currently housing at least 20 families consisting of 70 individuals including children, Turkish spouses of Filipinos, and senior citizens.
“Since the start of operations, the embassy team has met more than 70 Filipinos who have decided to remain in the provinces they have called home. Most were given assistance, according to their needs, while a handful respectfully declined so that it may be reserved for those in more dire situations,” the embassy said.
The embassy further said it is “accelerating its actions” to repatriate Filipinos who wish to return to Manila.
Last week, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega said the department is looking at repatriation of Filipinos from Turkey but a minor snag is that many of them have acquired Turkish citizenship.
Earlier, the DFA said 248 Filipinos were affected by the earthquake, with most losing their homes which were damaged or destroyed.
