Pinoys evacuated from quake-hit areas in Saudi Arabia

Several overseas Filipino workers were immediately evacuated from their homes after a series of earthquake hit the town of Al Ais in the western region of Saudi Arabia.

ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau correspondent Charles Tabbu reported that 24 Filipino nurses were temporarily brought to an evacuation center, 30 kilometers from Al Ais.

Rey Vicencio, coordinator of the Philippine Consulate in Yanbu, said that aside from the nurses, Filipino workers employed at the Saudi Cooperative Electric Company or SCECO were also moved to evacuation centers in Yanbu and Madinah, 50 kilometers from Al Ais.

Officials of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah are now determining the situation of Filipinos affected by the quake, the report said.

The report added that Philippine Consul General Ezzedin Tago has given instructions to find out the condition of Filipinos living in the earthquake affected areas of Al Ais, Madinah and Yanbu.

According to the US Geological Survey, 46 tremors have hit the region in a span of three days since 2 p.m. Sunday.

The most powerful quake was recorded 8 p.m. Tuesday in the town of Al Ais that forced the Saudi Civil Defense to conduct evacuation operations in nearby villages. The quake was measured 5.6 magnitude on the Richter scale.

The Arab News reported that the earthquake also created panic among residents due to fears that the tremors might trigger eruptions of extinct volcanoes in Al Ais.

Aftershocks were also felt in the nearby town of Umlaj, where some OFWs are working.

Tents near hospitals

A Filipina nurse from Umlaj said they have set up tents near their hospital due to the series of earthquakes. They are also afraid to sleep in the building where their accommodation is located.

"Aalis daw kami ngayon kasi baka sasabog. Malakas ang earthquake kaya doon kami sa ospital. May tent na doon na naka-ready. Lahat kami dito aalis. Mga 60 kami dito na tao--Indian at Filipina," said a Pinay nurse, who asked not to be named.

The Filipino workers called on the Philippine government to issue an advisory for them to determine the next action to take.

“Wala kaming makuhaan na balita. 'Yung iba nakiki-internet sa kasama namin na mga doctor. Fifty kilometers ang layo namin. Malapit lang sa mismong bulkan. Ang sabi kanina ng chief nurse namin, ang flow ng lava papunta daw ng Madinah at saka ng Yanbu, hindi daw dito sa amin. 'Yun lang kasi may dagat kami dito sa likod. 'Yun ang nakakatakot, 'yung tsunami daw,” she added. With Dindo Amparo, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau, Chief

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