No Pinoy hurt in Mecca incident

MANILA, Philippines - No Filipino was killed or hurt when a crane toppled over at Mecca’s Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia on Friday, Malacañang said yesterday.

In an interview with government-run dzRB, deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte assured the public that officials continue to monitor the situation to ensure the welfare of Filipinos in the area.

“Our consulate general in Jeddah has confirmed that there are no reports so far of Filipinos hurt or killed in the mishap in Mecca,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message. 

The government expressed its condolences to the families of the victims.

Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Mansouri, spokesman for the presidency of the Mecca and Medina mosque affairs, said at least 107 were confirmed dead when the accident occurred during a severe storm.

Japan floods

On the severe flooding spawned by Typhoon Etau in eastern Japan, Jose said the Philippine embassy in Tokyo had not received any report of injury or casualty involving Filipinos.

Around 15 Filipinos from the Ibaraki prefecture northeast of Tokyo have been evacuated from their homes, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez said in an interview over ANC.

“They are all safe. None of them are injured or anything like that. But they have been moved to safer locations,” Lopez said.

In Miyagi prefecture, the local government has ordered the evacuation of people due to widespread flooding.

Lopez said there are around 4,000 to 6,000 Filipinos in the area.  – With Pia Lee-Brago