Victim's kin laments laggard rescue efforts

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Hopes still run high for the family of Ilongga nurse Mary Louise Ann Amantillo that she could be taken out soon from the rubbles of the building that collapsed during the earthquake in Christchurch City, New Zealand Tuesday.

The family however was so disappointed over the seemingly slow rescue operations of New Zealand authorities to take out the victims trapped in the debris of the collapsed buildings.

Mary Louise's brother, Alexander Jr., expressed how worried they have been upon hearing that rescue efforts were not fast tracked in Kings Education, an English school in Christchurch City where her sister was studying.

Her cousin, Rex Estipona, said they have received reports that there were no rescuers assigned to sift through rubble and damaged buildings.

"Bakit po ganun? Sabi niya (Mary Louise) kasi marami pang buhay dun sa building na 'yun nung nakatawag siya. Marami pa daw silang kasama. Basically, puro minor injuries lang naman 'yung natamo nila kaya sana ma-rescue na sila," he told The FREEMAN.

It was gathered that most of those who survived immediately after the attack could not move because their legs got stuck in the rubbles.

"Until now, naghihintay pa rin po kami ng result sa ginagawa nilang rescue operation," Estipona said, as he called on authorities of the Philippine government in New Zealand to act quickly to save Mary Louise and her companions.

Mary Louise, a native of Balasan, a costal town in Iloilo, was trapped inside one of the school buildings that collapsed.

When the incident happened, the registered nurse Mary Louise was on her tenth day at school where she had to undergo a 6-month study to be able to work as full-time nurse in New Zealand.

The 23-year-old Mary Louise graduated from nursing at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City. (FREEMAN)