Typhoon Haiyan was one of the most catastrophic storms to ever hit the Philippines, however, reports from El Universal suggest that there are no Mexicans among the casualties. Mexican Ambassador Julio Camarena confirmed on Monday that there are no Mexican casualties. Of the 300 Mexicans residing in the Philippines, all but four have been accounted for -- the diplomatic team is still awaiting confirmation on the status of four women who live in the Philippines in a religious capacity. The embassy was able to make contact with a Mexican student who had been residing in an affected area.
The Mexican Ambassador explained that forewarning Mexican residents was key to ensuring their safety: "Long before the typhoon hit we sent emails to the whole Mexican community," Camarena said. "We invited them to evacuate from the most dangerous areas and provided information as to what to do should they be affected by the storm. We were able to make contact with almost all Mexican residents before the storm actually hit and we helped some of them to relocate," revealed the diplomat. "Thank the Lord."
Meanwhile the Philippino death toll continues to rise. The most conservative estimates have the death toll at 1,774, according to the LA Times. Over 2 million people have lost their homes. Millions more have been left without food, water or shelter. The U.N. High Commission for Refugees is sending emergency evacuation teams, while countries around the world are pledgin millions of dollars in financial aid. "The level of destruction we're seeing reported is absolutely staggering," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in a statement
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
