3 Pinoys among 19 killed in Doha mall blaze

MANILA, Philippines - Three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were among the 19 people killed in a fire that gutted a mall in Doha on Monday, according to an embassy report.

Citing a report from the Philippine embassy in Qatar, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday that three OFWs died of smoke inhalation while suffering minor burns.

In his report to the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Crescente Relacion identified the casualties as Maribel Orosco, Margie Yecyec and Julie Ann Soco, employees of the Gympanzee Nursery School.

Relacion said that the embassy would coordinate with authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the remains of the three victims.

“With investigation by authorities, it may take time to repatriate the bodies, longer than one week,” Relacion explained.

The embassy also verified that the three OFWs, who worked as teachers and assistant teachers, had only tourist and business visas.

“Perhaps, they were still applying for working visas here,” Relacion said.

However, based on the information obtained by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the three OFWs apparently entered Doha illegally since they did not have any records with OWWA or the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

“They do not have records with us and based on the information we got they entered Doha using visit or business visas,” OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon said.

Despite the undocumented status of the three victims, Dimzon gave assurance that OWWA would still help out in the repatriation process and provide other necessary assistance to their families.

Another OFW Michael Orosco, brother of Maribel, is being treated for smoke inhalation at Hamad hospital and is reportedly out of danger.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the families of the victims were already informed about the incident.

The embassy added that it would make representations with the management of the mall and the owner of the school for possible death benefits.

The fire was reportedly caused by faulty electrical wiring and started at about 11 a.m. inside the Villaggio mall where the nursery school was located.

“It appeared that they were trapped inside the school when the fire broke out at about 11 a.m. last Monday,” Dimzon noted.

Out of the 19 confirmed casualties, 13 were reportedly school children. According to their respective governments, four children from Spain, triplets from New Zealand and a French child were among those who perished. – With Mayen Jaymalin