3 OFWs die in Taiwan fire; 5 others injured

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THREE Filipino workers died in a fire that hit a food factory in Taiwan last Tuesday while five others were hurt, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office said yesterday.

MECO chairperson Silvestre Bello III said the three were killed after fire broke out at the second floor of the Lian-Hwa Foods Corporation in Changhua county in Central Taiwan at around 6 a.m., trapping 22 of the company’s workers, including the Filipinos.

The fire was put out at past 9 a.m.

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The three were identified by Bello as Nancy Revilla of Marinduque, Renato Larua of Cavite, and Aroma Miranda of Tarlac.

He said MECO had informed their families of the incident.

“My heart goes out to them in their hour of extreme sorrow,” Bello said.

He also assured the families of financial assistance from the Philippine and Taiwanese governments as well as their employer.

Aside from the benefits from their employer, Bello said the victims are also entitled to receive P200,000 death benefit from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, P20,000 burial benefits, education and livelihood assistance and training for members of their families and insurance.

He said MECO is now working with Taiwanese authorities for the repatriation of the victims’ remains.

Bello identified the injured as Shiela May Abas, Jessie Boy Samson, Maricris Fernando, Rodel Uttao and Santiago Suba Jr.

Of the five, only Fernando is still in intensive care.

“As of press time and per (the) attending nurse, four of them are already conscious, stable and recovering well. On the other hand, there is still concern regarding the condition of Fernando since she is still in ICU and has not yet regained consciousness,” Bello said.

He said when he and his staff visited the hospital where the five were brought, Fernando was undergoing dialysis.

He said a representative of the company, one of Taiwan’s major food processors, also visited the five in the hospital.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the factory had no record of violations of safety rules although investigations are still ongoing.

The ministry said the family of the deceased will receive NT$100,000, equivalent to $3,283 each in compensation, while the county government will give NT$30,000 to their families and NT$20,000 to the injured.

Around 200,000 Filipinos are living and working in Taiwan.

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