CHICAGO: A Filipino worker who was badly burned in an explosion on a oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico last week, died from his injuries, the Philippines embassy said on Friday.
His death brings the toll from the November 16 blast off the coast of Louisiana to three, all of whom were Filipinos.
Welder Avelino Tajonera, 49, died a few hours after his wife and three children arrived at the Texas hospital on Thursday.
"The Filipino nation joins his family in grieving over their loss," Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said in a statement.
The body of Ellroy Corporal, 42, was recovered on Saturday and will be repatriated on Tuesday. Rescue workers were unable to find Jerome Malagapo, 28, who was lost at sea.
Nine of the 22 workers doing maintenance work on the non-producing platform were Filipinos working for a sub-contractor.
About nine million Filipinos or 10 percent of the Philippines population are abroad to work in higher-paying jobs than they can get in their largely impoverished homeland.
Rig operator Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations had a history of safety violations and US regulators warned on Wednesday the Houston-based company could lose its license if it does not improve its safety performance.
Published : Wednesday January 16, 2013 | Category : Breaking News | Hits:102
By : AFP
MANILA, Jan 16, 2013 (AFP) - The Philippines is set to regulate Internet advertising in May mid-term polls as part of an effort to rein in campaign spending, an election official said Wednesday. Read more
Published : Monday January 14, 2013 | Category : Breaking News | Hits:703
By : AFP
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei: Brunei will pursue a binding code of conduct among competing South China Sea claimants as a top priority during its ASEAN chairmanship, officials said Monday. Read more
Published : Monday January 14, 2013 | Category : Breaking News | Hits:675
By : AFP
MANILA: Philippine police said Monday they rescued a kidnapped Indian businessman being held for ransom but not before his captors had cut off one of his fingers and sent it to his wife. Read more
Published : Saturday January 12, 2013 | Category : Breaking News | Hits:814
By : AFP
BEIJING: Dense fog enveloped swathes of east and central China Saturday, with pollution levels in Beijing reaching dangerous levels for a second day and residents advised to stay indoors, state media said. Read more
Published : Saturday January 12, 2013 | Category : Breaking News | Hits:794
By : AFP
CHICAGO: The death toll from a flu outbreak gripping the United States has reached epidemic levels and it will be at least several weeks before the outbreak abates, health officials said Friday. Read more