Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Filipina hurt in Bangkok blast, says DFA


MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that a Filipina was among those injured in the blast in Bangkok Monday.

The unnamed victim sustained injury to her hearing due to the blast.

She is reportedly working with a foreign family in Thailand. She will be returning to the Philippines. DFA said the victim has requested that her identity be not revealed.

DFA earlier condemned the blast, saying the explosion had the "intention to sow terror."

"The Philippines stands in solidarity with the government and people of Thailand at this trying moment," DFA earlier said in a statement.

On Monday night, a blast rocked The Erawan shrine, which sits at the foot of the five-star Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. The site is surrounded by a string of other large hotels and malls that draw tens of thousands of visitors each day.

The death toll from a bomb blast in the Thai capital rose to 21 on Tuesday with 123 wounded, police said, with seven tourists from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore among those killed in the attack.

Of the wounded, Thais made up the largest number with 42 being treated, followed by 28 Chinese. Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, the Philippines and Singapore all had one or more nationals wounded, according to the list.

Authorities had said earlier that the blast killed a Filipino citizen but there was no mention of that person on the revised list. DFA is still verifying such reports.

On Tuesday, a new explosion rocked another tourist destination in Bangkok, barely a day after the first blast claimed many lives.

Thai media reported that the blast happened at Thaksin pier. The area is being used by tourists who take river boats to various destinations along the Chao Phraya River.

There are so far no reports of casualties in the new explosion. Unlike the first blast on Monday, the second explosion did not cause much damage.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com