No Filipinos were hurt or badly affected when a 7.5 magnitude quake hit Taiwan on Wednesday morning, April 3, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said. 

MECO chairman and resident representative Silvestro Bello III said they immediately intensified the monitoring and information gathering from their local units in Taiwan after the tremor.

“We are thankful that we have not received reports of any of our kababayans being hurt or badly affected by the powerful earthquake that hit Taiwan this morning,” said Bello in a statement. 

“Our kababayans and OFWs are all accounted for and safe,” he added.

As of December 2023, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that there are 66,475 OFWs in Taiwan.

Taiwan's Central Weather  Administration reported the magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred at 7:58 this morning with its epicenter located some 25 kilometers south-southeast southeast of Hualien County. 

Citing reports from its field offices across Taiwan, Bello said Filipino communities, particularly in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung reported that there are no Filipino casualties in their ranks during the tremor and the aftershocks.

“At the very least, a lot of our OFWs were very scared as the buildings they were in swayed, and the ground was shaking,” said Bello.

“We continue to pray for everyone’s safety in Taiwan,” he added.

For its part, the DMW said it is monitoring the situation of  overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan. 

“Three Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in Taiwan have already activated the protocols with Filipino communities, leaders, relevant Taiwan government agencies as well as employers and trade associations to ascertain the safety and status of Taiwan-based OFWs,” the DMW statement read.

“The Taiwan MWOs are prepared to provide immediate assistance to affected OFWs as necessary,” it added.