PHILIPPINES, April 18: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) disclosed on Thursday that three Filipino nationals lost their lives amidst severe flooding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In a somber announcement, Hans Cacdac, the officer-in-charge of DMW, conveyed the tragic news via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Cacdac expressed profound sorrow, stating, “With extreme sadness, we report the death of 3 OFWs during the flooding in UAE. Two OFWs died due to suffocation inside their vehicle during the flood. One other OFW died due to a vehicular accident. We shall provide utmost support and assistance to their families.”
While the DMW has informed the next of kin of the victims, Cacdac refrained from disclosing their identities at the time of posting. According to Cacdac, two of the deceased are female, while one is male.
In a formal statement, the DMW extended heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families and relatives of the deceased OFWs. The agency affirmed its commitment to providing comprehensive support and assistance to the bereaved families, collaborating closely with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The DMW further assured that relief efforts were underway, with Philippine offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai gearing up to distribute essential items and relief goods to affected OFW communities in Al Ain and Dubai. Despite challenges posed by flooding in certain areas, the DMW emphasized that public assistance and training areas in MWO-Dubai had been cleaned and restored.
Notably, Cacdac disclosed that none of the approximately 648,929 Filipinos in Dubai had requested repatriation despite the unprecedented rainfall, which caused extensive damage and disruptions across the UAE.
The recent downpours marked the most significant rainfall recorded in the UAE in 75 years, paralyzing various regions and inflicting substantial harm.