16 Pinoys among 26 dead in Dubai dry dock flood

Sixteen Filipinos were among 26 people killed in a dry dock accident in Dubai of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week, the labor department said yesterday.

"Sixteen of our countrymen died, five are still in the hospital and 13 others have checked out of the hospital," Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said.

Twenty-six workers were killed and three are still missing, also feared dead, after a wall of water flooded into a giant dry dock in Dubai last Wednesday.

The UAE has not revealed the nationalities of the victims, but most of the workforce are known to be Asians, mainly Indians, Filipinos, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans.

The 16 Filipino fatalities were identified as Marcelino Sumagang, Joseph Cayaban, Florante Mercado, Rolando Romero, Jose Santos, Fernand Velasco, Arturo Rodriguez, Jose Consunji Lizo Jr., Jim Lucero, Vittorio Gustilo, Henry Sumanga, Cecilio Silang, Emando Canlas, Henry Sanchez, Sofio Bosero and Arthur Pullido.

The Dubai dry dock is one of the largest facilities in the world for ship repair. It employs 1,641 Filipino workers.

"Starting tomorrow, our embassy and our labor attachés there will work for the repatriation of the bodies," Sto. Tomas said.

She said the UAE government has promised to shoulder the cost of repatriation.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Wilhelm Soriano said families of the 16 victims will receive government assistance.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo activated yesterday emergency evacuation plans for Filipino workers in Israel who may be caught in the crossfire between Israeli and Palestinian forces.

Sto. Tomas said Mrs. Arroyo issued the order following consultations with Philippine Embassy officials in Israel, led by Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., concurrent presidential adviser on foreign and state visits.

Sto. Tomas said there are about 30,000 to 35,000 documented Filipino workers in Israel, most of them caregivers in hospitals and nursing homes.

The figure, however, could rise to 50,000 to include Filipino illegals there, she said.

In another development, Sto. Tomas said there were no Filipino casualties reported in the powerful earthquake that rocked Taiwan the other day.

"The rescue operations there are still ongoing but the latest information we have received from our labor officials there is that there were no casualties or injuries among our workers," she said.

Over 50,000 Filipino workers are employed in Taiwan, majority of whom are domestic helpers. — Mayen Jaymalin, Marichu Villanueva, Pia Lee-Brago and AFP