Authorities in Iraq’s Kurdistan region pledged the Philippine Embassy that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the Capitol Hotel fire on February 5 which killed 13 Filipino workers.
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani conveyed his condolences and solidarity with the Filipino people to Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato in a meeting at the capital Erbil.
“Our hearts go to the victims of this tragedy and their families back in the Philippines,” the prime minister said, while assuring the Philippine embassy the support and cooperation of the regional government.
He said a thorough investigation will be done and appropriate action will be taken against those found responsible for the tragedy. Initial findings point to faulty electrical wiring as the cause of the fire, which killed 19 people.
Cato, on his part, expressed his gratitude to the prime minister and regional government’s support for the repatriation of 13 Filipino citizens who perished in the fire.
He noted that with the help of the government in Kurdistan, it took only seven days to send the remains of the victims home.