DFA: 25,000 Pinoys living in areas along path of California wildfires


The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday told thousands of Filipinos living along the path of a wildfire ravaging California to evacuate if necessary.
The DFA said in a statement that at least 25,800 Filipinos are living in areas, which may be reached by "three fast-moving wildfires" particularly in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
California Governor Jerry Brown had declared a state of emergency in Ventura County due to the wildfire, dubbed as The thomas Fire, which has gutted at least 45,000 acres or more than 18,210 hectares of land area and had forced thousands to flee.
The DFA said it is closely monitoring the wildfires.
"We join our kababayans in the Philippines and in the United States in praying for the members of the Filipino Community and their neighbors in Ventura and Los Angeles counties that they will be spared from the raging infernos that are threatening their lives and their homes," DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.
Cayetano urged Filipinos in the affected areas to "be ready to evacuate if necessary" and contact the Philippine Consulate General through phone numbers +1.213.268.9990 and +1.213.587.0758.
He said the  Filipino community in the two counties should contact the Philippine Consulate GTeneral in Los Angeles for assistance.
The DFA said that according to a report by Consul General Adel Angelito Cruz, 27,000 people have been evacuated in Ventura County, where 150 buildings and houses have been gutted by the wildfire.
Cruz also reported that the two wildfires in Los Angeles County have ravaged 11,500 acres or 4,653 hectares of land. The consul general also reported that the two wildfires in the county "remain out of control." —ALG, GMA News

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