MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York, is closely monitoring developments on a tourist bus accident along Interstate 90 highway in New York on Friday, (New York time).
“The Consulate General of the Philippines in New York is monitoring developments on a tourist bus accident along New York’s I-90 highway. New York State Police have reported that several of the casualties are Filipino nationals,” DFA Spokesperson Angelica Escalona said in a statement on Saturday.
Escalona declined to reveal the identities of the casualties due to privacy concerns and said that the Consulate will be “reaching out” to the families of the victims directly.
She also mentioned that the Consulate is actively monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist any victims who may need assistance.
According to Escalona, for victims of the accident or their next-of-kin, the Consulate may be reached at the Assistance-to-Nationals Hotline (917) 294-0196.
The accident occurred Friday afternoon (New York time) when a bus carrying 54 passengers lost control and flipped on its side on Interstate 90 in western New York.
New York police confirmed that five people were confirmed dead, while others were injured.
The bus was returning to New York from Niagara Falls and the US-Canada border when the accident happened, with multiple children reported to be among those rescued and rushed to the hospital, and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities also revealed that passengers of the bus were Asian and of Asian descent, particularly Indian, Chinese and Filipino nationals.
