Filipino teachers on exchange program in Maui safe after catastrophic wildfires
The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP)
MANILA, Philippines — All Filipino teachers under an exchange program in Maui are safe following the catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii, Emilio Fernandez, the Philippine Consul General in Honolulu, said on Thursday.
Fernandez told INQUIRER.net in a text message that the Filipino teachers were assigned to Maui for an exchange visitor program.
“There were 30 newly recruited Filipino teachers under the J1 Exchange Visitor Program assigned to teach in Maui. Eight of them were in Lahaina, one of the areas hit by wildfires. They are all safe and accounted for,” said Fernandez.
The consul general likewise disclosed that emergency consular services are ongoing in Maui.
Being attended to are Filipinos, principally living in Lahaina, who have lost their homes and belongings, including their Philippine passports.
Asked how many Filipinos have lost their homes due to the fires, Fernandez said, “local officials have not provided data” on this.
Fernandez said the Maui wildfire death toll now stands at 106, as seven more victims were found on August 16.
“The names of the first two victims were released after their next of kin had been notified.”
The authorities have yet to identify if there were Filipinos among the casualties.
Citing Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega’s statement, Fernandez said medical and financial assistance may be authorized for those still Filipino citizens and have no other funding sources.
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