MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday that it will arrange for the immediate repatriation of the remains of two Filipino workers, who were among the 12 people killed in a gas explosion at a restaurant in Doha, Qatar.
Two other Filipinos sustained head injuries from the blast, but they are now in stable condition, said DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez.
“We hope to repatriate the remains as soon as possible,” Hernandez said.
The Filipino victims are merchandisers at a supermarket inside a mall adjacent to the restaurant. They were in one of the establishments in the vicinity when an explosion happened Thursday.
Relatives of the slain victims have already been informed of the fate of their loved ones, Hernandez said.
The Philippine government will assist the families in claiming employment benefits of their dead relatives and the repatriation of their remains, he added.
Hernandez also said the respective sponsors or employers of the Filipino fatalities assured the Philippine Embassy officials that they will shoulder all expenses related to treatment or repatriation of remains.
The family of one of the fatalities, who is an Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) member, may also claim benefits from that agency, he said.
Qatar is a home to around 185,000 Filipinos, mostly working as household service workers, semi- or low-skilled workers, and professionals. (PNA)