Remains of 3 Filipinos who died in Kuwait fire arrive at NAIA

BEREAVED. A relative of one of the three fatalities in an apartment building fire in Kuwait receives the remains at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Monday (June 17, 2024). Three Filipinos died while two are still in critical condition. (Photo: OWWA Overseas Workers Welfare Administration/Facebook)

MANILA – The remains of the three overseas Filipino workers who perished in the fire that razed their apartment building in al-Mangaf, Kuwait on June 12 returned home on Monday.

Relatives were accompanied by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Arnell Ignacio and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac in receiving the remains at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Pair-Pags Center in Pasay City.

“Kahit masalimuot ang pangyayaring ito para sa pamilya ng mga yumao, nais tiyakin ng OWWA na lahat ng benepisyo ay matatanggap ng mga na-iwan ng ating mga kababayan sa lalong madaling panahon (This is a tragic incident for the families of the victims and the OWWA assures that the families left behind will receive all the benefits due them as soon as possible),” the OWWA said in a news release.

Before the arrival, Ignacio met with the families to narrate what happened and update them on the status of the investigation by Kuwaiti authorities.

Ignacio said the structure that caught fire serves as the accommodation building for the workers of a construction company.

Eleven Filipinos were affected, with two still in critical condition in a hospital and being monitored by the Migrant Workers Office in Kuwait.

A total of 49 people, mostly Indians, died.

The DMW said its legal team in Kuwait is looking into the possibility of taking legal action, based on the findings.