Three Filipinos who were among the passengers of a tourist bus that crashed in New York have been confirmed safe, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced.
DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said the three, all residents of Qatar who were vacationing in New York, were discharged from the hospital and cleared to continue their travel. Their specific injuries were not disclosed.
The incident occurred on August 22 at around 12:22 p.m. when a 2005 Van Wool tour bus traveling from Niagara Falls back to New York City slammed in the town of Pembroke, Genesee County. The crash left five people dead and dozens injured. Passengers were rushed to several hospitals, including Erie County Medical Center and Strong Memorial Hospital.
Escalona explained that in cases like this, Philippine missions abroad work closely with local authorities to verify if Filipinos are among the victims. “They do not just give out information on who died or who was injured. Once it is cleared and the individuals involved have given their consent, that is the only time they will release the information and allow them to be visited,” she said in a televised interview.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers to continue monitoring the welfare of Filipinos affected by the tragedy.
