Migrant workers organizations quickly mobilized to help affected families in Hong Kong’s deadly fire that broke out Wednesday night, November 26.
The Mission For Migrant Workers (MFMW) and the Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge (BHMWR) set up relief distribution kiosks near the fire disaster that affected both local residents and migrant workers.
Hong Kong authorities said 55 have been reported dead while 279 remain missing as of Thursday afternoon in the territory’s worst fire in more than 100 years.
“We are all heartbroken by the devastating news coming from Tai Po. Many families, including migrant domestic workers who are main caregivers in the households, have been forced to evacuate to shelters that are currently without basic necessities,” the organizations said.
“As an NGO supporting migrant domestic workers in HK, with 2,000 households, there may be at least 200 migrant domestic workers affected by the fire,” the groups added.
The centers said they have yet to receive information of Filipino casualties in the fire that engulfed seven of eight high-rise buildings in the housing enclave.
“Based on our network, we are aware that a number of migrant domestic workers have been affected and, in some cases, remain unaccounted for in the immediate aftermath,” they said.
There are more than 200,000 registered overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong.
“In difficult times, let’s stand together to protect and support all affected families, including migrant domestic workers and other vulnerable groups who often face greater challenges in accessing services,” the groups said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila said there is no verified report of Filipinos casualties as of Thursday morninga result of the Level 5 fire.
The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, however revealed it received “unverified information that some Filipino domestic workers may be trapped inside the buildings.”
It added: “Due to the scale and intensity of the fire, it will take time before the extent of the damage and number and nationality of the victims are fully determined.”
Philippine authorities said they continue to coordinate with the Hong Kong Police Force.
Hong Kong officials said the fire was spread by bamboo scaffoldings, a traditional Chinese construction material. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
