Chances of finding survivors in NZ quake slim - DFA

MANILA, Philippines - Chances that survivors will be rescued from under the collapsed Canterbury Television (CTV) building in Christchurch, New Zealand are “very, very slim,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. 

Foreign Affairs spokesman Eduardo Malaya said New Zealand authorities said there have been no survivors dug up from of the leveled building since last Wednesday.

“The New Zealand authorities said that prospects of having survivors under the collapsed building are very, very slim,” Malaya said. 

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the city last week, leaving 146 people dead.

Enrico Fos, Special Assistant at the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, said the Philippine embassy in Christchurch confirmed that one of the 12 people trapped under the building is a Peruvian, identified as Elisa Torres. 

“Confirmed that missing is 11 Filipinos,” he said.

There are 2,000 Filipinos in Christchurch.

The search and rescue team deployed by New Zealand reportedly ceased operations when there were no longer signs of life in the collapsed building.

Charge d’Affaires in Wellington Giovanni Palec relayed the developments to the families of five missing Filipinos in Cebu through a teleconference.

The missing Filipinos were identified as Jesse Lloyd Redoble, John Christopher Chua, Ezea Mae Medalle, Emmabel Anova, Jewel Francisco, Ivy Jane Cabunillas, Mary Louise Anne Amantillo, Valquin Bensurto, Rhea Mae Sumalpong, Erica Nora, and Lalaine Agatep.

The parents of Sumalpong and Redoble arrived in Christchurch last Saturday.

The DFA said New Zealand authorities would not release the identities of those who perished in the quake until the bodies are recovered and identified through DNA testing.

Police authorities have yet to release a consolidated list of missing persons and their nationalities.

The remains of those recovered were transported to a military camp in Christchurch where the identification and processing will take three weeks.

Arrangements are underway to have the relatives of the 11 missing Filipinos go to New Zealand to assist in the identification of the fatalities.

The DFA is coordinating with the New Zealand embassy in Manila for the issuance of visas for the relatives of the victims.

The DFA said last Friday that two Filipinas previously reported among the 14 Filipino nationals missing after the quake are alive and safe. They are Rita Estrella and Hayley Concepcion. – With Jaime Laude