With the devastations brought about by the Joplin Tornado, thousands of people have lost their properties and some of them had lost their loved ones. It was confirmed yesterday that the total number of Filipino fatalities was three. The last one was identified and confirmed by his family according to news report by ABS-CBN.
The first two fatalities who were earlier confirmed and identified by their families who are still in shocked and mourning for the untimely demise of their loved ones. The first two victims were Filipina Estrelita Moore and Grace Aquino.
Estrelita Moore was a Filipina hairdresser and a breast cancer survivor who lived in Joplin Missouri and one of the Filipino victim of the devastating tornado. The 74-year old Moore was found in the second floor of the building beside his home. She was even holding her medicines tightly during the incident.
Meanwhile the other Filipino, Grace Aquino was found inside the ruined church. They were attending a sunday service when the tornado struck the area. According to her two daughters, Eunice and Divine, their mother was protecting their younger brother during the incident.
Divine was quoted as saying that “She loves me very much and she can’t wait to see me in the day because I work all night and I was going to drive to see her. I haven’t seen her in a month.” said the daughter.
The third victim was now identified as Thomas Sarino from Cebu, the caused of the delayed of Sarino’s identity was due absence of relative in Missouri and his only relatives were from Cebu. He was not also reported as missing because he was not so active in the Filipino community. According to the community leaders there was an estimated 200 Filipino families living in Joplin.
Thomas Sarino’s identity was first reported by ABS-CBN News and the agency contacted the immediate family of Thomas Sarino in Cebu. According to their latest news, Grace Sarino the cousin of Thomas was contacted by a certain Taylor Jayne Thompson who relayed the information to her regarding the death of Thomas Sarino.
The 76-year old Thomas Sarino was a former employee of Warner Bros. before he moved on to Joplin to work for Loma Linda Golf Resort. He was believed to be living in an apartment at 2001 Connecticut Avenue, Apartment A-5. The tornado struck the apartment and after the incident his body was pulled deceased according to the statement of his neighbor Mrs. Gillete.