Filipina worker confirmed dead in Hong Kong fire

A Filipina overseas worker earlier reported missing was confirmed dead following the Tai Po fire incident in Hong Kong, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Hong Kong said Sunday.

In a statement, the Consulate identified the victim as Maryan Pascual Esteban, an overseas Filipino worker from Cainta, Rizal. She leaves behind her 10-year-old son and family in the Philippines.

Department of Migrant Workers Secretary and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan visited Esteban’s family on Saturday night to extend assistance.

DMW spokesperson Hans Cacdac said Esteban’s son hopes to become a firefighter “so no one has to die in a fire again.” Esteban reportedly died while taking care of her employer’s five-year-old daughter.

The Consulate said its mobile teams continue to check on affected Filipinos. As of 2:00 p.m. Sunday, 84 Filipinos have been confirmed safe, one injured, and seven others remain for verification.

Meanwhile, OWWA reported that another Filipina worker, Rhodora Alcaraz, is in critical but stable condition. Alcaraz, a newly arrived domestic worker, was injured after rescuing her employer’s three-month-old child.

International reports said the fire, which started on 26 November at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, had left 128 dead and 83 injured as of Saturday.