More than 50 Filipinos were evacuated to shelter in Ankara, Turkiye following the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake.
Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said 53 Filipinos, including their husbands and children are currently taking shelter in the Turkiye capital, while 25 Filipinos have already received relief goods as of Saturday afternoon, Feb. 11.
"They (Philippine Embassy in Turkiye) will try to give additional data on the number of Filipinos met, called, texted, emailed plus increases in number of evacuees and Filipinos given relief goods in due course," Daza said.
She added that "the shelter referred to is a dormitory arranged by the Embassy for its evacuees."
In a statement on Sunday, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara said "the number of Filipino families sheltered in Ankara" while kind-hearted Filipinos continue to share their own resources and time to augment the Embassy efforts amid the disaster.
It also reiterated the Embassy will continue to accommodate evacuees.
"We acknowledge that several intrepid Filipinos were able to escape danger on their own accord, through sheer will and the kindness of their Turkish friends and family. We reiterate that the doors of the Embassy shelter are open for them," the embassy said.
It also disclosed that a Filipino and her children remain missing and "feared to be still under rubble" in Hatay City. This, according to the embassy, was confirmed by her husband and her sister-in-law.
The embassy has sought assistance from search and rescue teams to find her and her children.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Humanitarian Contingent, through the direction of the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, were assigned to conduct structure assessment on collapsed buildings and establish a satellite field hospital to cater to patients and injured personnel.
A team from the embassy also continues to be present in Mersin, less than 100 kilometers (km) to Adana and roughly 250 kms to Hatay, in order to respond to the needs of Filipinos there.
The embassy can be reached via telephone and WhatsApp (+905345772344), via email at [email protected], and Facebook at www.facebook.com/PHinTurkey.