Pinoy dies in tornado-hit city in New Zealand

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said a Filipino perished in the deadly tornado that struck the city of Auckland and its suburbs on Tuesday. The Philippine Honorary Consul General in Auckland Emilie Shi informed the Embassy that Benedict Onofre Dacayan, 37, was the lone fatality in the incident. According to news reports, 20 people were injured in the tornado which ripped across Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. The tornado began in Albany and proceeded to Rosedale, Birkenhead and Beach Haven, upturning cars and sending debris into the air. The power supply in the area had been cut after a power station was damaged. In a report to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Wellington said Dacayan was a permanent resident of New Zealand and was working with Fletcher Construction. He is married with two children. The DFA said Dacayan was at the job site of his construction company in Albany, Auckland when the tornado struck the area. Consul General Shi is in contact with the family in New Zealand. The DFA said family intends to bury the victim's remains in New Zealand. - VVP, GMA News