PHL extends sympathies to victims of N. California wildfires

Firefighters protect a vineyard in Santa Rosa, California, on October 11, 2017 as the death toll from Northern California wildfires continues to grow./ AFP / Robyn Beck/

(Eagle News) — The Philippines on Saturday extended its sympathies to the families of those who died and whose properties were lost in the Northern California wildfires.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the wildfires, which began in California’s Wine Country on Oct. 8, have left more than 30 dead and thousands of people homeless.

While none of the “almost 18,000 Filipinos in the Wine Country and surrounding counties have been reported as among the casualties,” he noted that the government “continue(s) to reach out to the Filipino communities in the affected areas..to ascertain (their) conditions.”

He said areas of focus include the Napa and Sonoma counties.