Filtered By: Pinoyabroad TAIWAN QUAKE

Missing Pinay believed trapped in collapsed building; 1 Pinoy hurt

Authorities have yet to locate the Filipino woman who went missing after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit Hualien in Taiwan on Wednesday, Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO) chief Angelito Banayo said in an interview on QRT.
Melody Albano Castro, who works as a caretaker in an elderly nursing home, is believed to be one of 56 people trapped in the building that collapsed due to the earthquake. 
"Kaninang hapon ay tinatawagan natin sa cellphone niya, pero hindi sumasagot. So magdasal na lang tayo na sana'y nasa maayos na siyang kalagayan," Banayo said.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is still attempting to contact Castro's family in the Philippines, he added.
Search and rescue operations were temporarily halted after the building where Castro was believed to be trapped further tilted to the ground. Rescue teams will place more support around the building before they attempt another search.
Meanwhile, Banayo said a Filipino was also among the 256 peope who sustained injuries in the quake. Philippine officials in Taiwan were unable to identify the Filipino as he or she was discharged after receiving treatment for minor injuries.
Seven deaths have so far been recorded in the quake that caused 88 people to go missing and knocked out power and cut off running water in Hualien, a tourist city.
The Department of Foreign Affairs estimates that about 100,000 Filipinos are working and living in Taiwan. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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