Sharjah fire victim’s husband wanted to bring her home himself

The husband of the Filipina who died in the recent tragic fire in Sharjah has been discharged from the hospital and is awaiting to be repatriated back home, together with the remains of his wife, the Philippine labour attaché in Dubai has confirmed to Khaleej Times on Friday.

The identities of the couple were not given but labour attaché John Rio A. Bautista said “the husband of the deceased victim is now safe and has already been discharged from the hospital.”

Philippine authorities were able to speak to the expat. They said he wished to “recover immediately”.

“One of his motivations was that he wanted to bring his wife home himself,” according to Hans Leo Cacdac, officer-incharge of the Department of Migrant Workers in Manila, as quoted in local media reports.

“In a way, it was his dead wife who also encouraged him to recover. He is now safe,” Cadac said in an interview.

The Philippine Consulate-general (PCG) and Migrant Workers Office ( MWO) in Dubai are assisting the husband to complete the documents necessary for the repatriation of the remains of his wife, Bautista said.

The identities of the couple were not given but labour attaché John Rio A. Bautista said “the husband of the deceased victim is now safe and has already been discharged from the hospital.

“Expenses will be shouldered by MWO. The deceased was under the visa of her husband.”

Bautista added MWO has also provided financial assistance to the other Filipino victims of the Sharjah fire while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has given them food assistance.

“Most of those affected by the fire have already returned to their homes,” he added.

The devastating fire erupted at a high-rise residential building in Sharjah’s Al Nadha area on April 4. According to Sharjah Police, five people died and 44 were injured in the incident. The deaths – including that of the unidentified Filipina – were believed to have been caused by suffocation.

Aside from the couple, 10 other Filipinos – including two children – who live in the same building, were also affected by the fire.