Update: The Philippine Embassy in Canberra is closely monitoring the status of Filipinos amid ongoing Australia bushfire, which already killed nearly half a billion animals.
Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Elmer Cato told GMA News Online on Sunday that they have not received any report of any Filipinos affected by the bush fires since January 1.
“Wala pa naman update after na may mga Pinoy na nagpapatulong or nag-report na affected sila,” Cato said in a text message.
(There have not been any updates of Filipinos that have come forward or reported that they had been affected.)
The Philippine Embassy in Canberra said in January 1 advisory that they are carefully checking bushfire emergencies in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia areas.
“While the Embassy has not received reports of Filipinos suffering injuries due to the fires to date, it is closely monitoring developments and communicating with the various agencies and Filipino community leaders in Australia to ascertain the safety and welfare of our kababayans,” it said.
The embassy also advised Filipinos to follow instructions from their local authorities and to take all necessary precautions and recommended actions.
“Filipinos may also contact the relevant Philippine Consulate with jurisdiction over their area if they have any information on Filipinos requiring assistance,” it added.
As of Sunday morning, 150 areas still burning in New South Wales, while dozens more were burning in Victoria.
Also read: Gun, ammunition seized from Australian passenger in Mactan Airport
Update: rain briefly stops Australia bushfire crisis
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A second day of light rain brought relief for firefighters battling bushfires that have killed 24 people across southeastern Australia, but hot, windy conditions are expected to return later in the week, officials warned on Monday.
Sooty rain came down all along the coast, from Sydney all the way to Melbourne, with temperatures much lower in the low 20s Celsius (low 70s Fahrenheit), down from nearly 40 degrees C (104F) in some areas over the weekend.
“There is no room for complacency, especially given we have over 130 fires burning across the state still,” New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Monday morning.
Read more here.