A second Filipino was confirmed as one of the fatalities in the deadly wildfire that hit Maui island in Hawaii, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official reported on Tuesday, August 22.
Citing information from Philippine Consul General in Honolulu Emilio Fernandez, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said the latest Filipino fatality was identified as Rodolfo Rocutan, a 76-year-old resident of Lahaina, the ground zero of the wildwire.
Rocutan was among the five new casualties identified by Maui Country officials.
According to de Vega, the elderly victim renewed his Philippine passport at the Philippine consulate in 2022, which means he was a Filipino citizen at the time of his death.
"The Consulate has reached out to a relative of the late Mr. Rocutan to convey its deepest sympathies and offer the Philippine government's support and assistance, including cremation and repatriation of remains as requested," de Vega said, reiterating an update from Fernandez.
"Once again, the Philippine nation expresses its deepest sympathies to the families of all the victims of this tragedy," he added.
On August 18, the DFA reported the death of the first Filipino national who was identified as fatalities in the deadly wildfire, which already killed at least 115 people. He was 76-year-old Alfredo Galinato.