3 Pinoys killed, 3 hurt in Dubai fire

MANILA, Philippines - Three expatriate Filipinos died while three others were hurt when a fire razed their apartment in Dubai last Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

A report by the Philippine consulate general in Dubai said the fire broke out last Nov. 6 in the victims’ apartment in Satwa.

Philippine Consul General Benito Valeriano said two Filipinos suffered minor injuries while another sustained second degree burns in the face, back, arms and toes and is now confined at the surgical intensive care unit of Al Rashid hospital.

The Filipinos, whose names were withheld pending notification of their next of kin, were asleep when the fire broke out.

When they woke up, the apartment’s receiving room and kitchen were in flames and no exit could be used.

The three fatalities and two others who managed to escape were asleep in one room.

The consulate is coordinating with the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for the repatriation of the remains of the victims and extension of assistance to their families.