The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that no Filipinos have been reported harmed or affected by the massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, leaving over 150 people dead, hundreds injured, and causing widespread destruction.
In an interview with dzBB on Saturday, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega expressed condolences to Myanmar and Thailand, stating, “Nakikiramay tayo sa mga kaibigan, kapitbahay natin sa Myanmar at Thailand... Sa ating mga kababayan, as of last night, ayon sa ating ambassadors, walang reported na Pilipinong nasawi o naapektuhan.”
The earthquake, which struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar, caused extensive damage, collapsing buildings, destroying bridges, and cracking roads. The tremor was so strong that it led to the collapse of a 30-story building under construction in Bangkok, Thailand.
Despite the devastation, De Vega assured that the Philippine Embassies in Myanmar and Thailand have been closely monitoring the situation and have issued advisories for Filipinos to remain calm, vigilant, and updated on developments.
“Nag-issue ng advisory sa mga Pilipino ang mga Embahada ng Pilipinas sa Myanmar at Thailand to remain calm and vigilant and monitor updates... Kino-contact nila ang mga Pilipino roon through community leaders... Wala pang report na nasawi o naapektuhan,” he stated.
De Vega added that there are approximately 600 Filipinos in Myanmar, but they are reportedly far from the earthquake’s epicenter. In Thailand, where about 29,000 Filipinos reside, the tremor's impact was less severe.
While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, De Vega reassured that the DFA is ready to assist any Filipinos who may wish to return home due to the disaster.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Myanmar has committed to gathering “current and credible information on the status of all affected Filipinos” and is considering deploying a team on the ground to conduct welfare checks. Similarly, the Philippine Embassy in Thailand has urged Filipinos to “remain calm and vigilant” and stay informed through credible sources.