2 Pinoys killed, 3 others hurt after being hit by train in New Zealand —envoy


Two overseas Filipino workers were killed and three others were injured when the car they were riding was hit by a train in New Zealand, according to the Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand.
In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Ambassador Jesus Domingo said the incident happened near the Bay of Plenty in northern New Zealand around 8:15 a.m. local time as the victims were trying to cross the railway.
"May mga kababayan tayong nakasakay sa saskayan. Tumawid sila sa riles ng train tapos binangga sila ng train. Hindi namin alam kung may problema iyong barrier," Domingo said, adding that authorities have yet to find out if  the railway warning sign had malfunctioned before the incident.
He said two of the three injured Filipinos were seriously hurt but are already in stable condition.
The ambassador said the victims had just arrived in New Zealand last week and started work as fruit pickers. He said they were on their way to work when the incident happened. "Nakakalungkot. Bagong dating lang sila," he said.
Domingo said they could not release the names of the victims, since authorities are still trying to reach their families and employers.
He said the Philippine embassy will extend all the help they can give to the victims and their families.
"Kailangan malaman namin ang terms of contract, kung long term [sila]. Unang titignan namin iyong sa employer and then kung may kulang na requirments then the government can step in," Domingo said. — MDM, GMA News

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