MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine consul in the United States said a Filipino was among those hit by the massive tornado in Oklahoma City earlier this week.
The official Twitter account of the Philippine Embassy in the US quoted Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim as saying that a Filipino was displaced after his home was hit by the deadly tornado.
The Filipino was not identified.
However, the Embassy clarified that Lim, the Consul General in Chicago, still has not received any report of casualties among 10,800 Filipinos in Moore, Oklahoma City.
On Tuesday (Manila time), a powerful tornado swept through Moore, tearing down blocks of homes and flattening an entire neigborhood.
The Associated Press initially reported that as many as 51 people were killed but reduced the death toll to 24.
The Philippine International Baptist Church located in the Oklahoma suburb was narrowly missed by the tornado, according to the Philippine Embassy in the US.
"Philippine International Baptist Church spared as it was two blocks south of path of tornado," the Philippine Embassy in the US said in its Twitter account.
Lim said they are having difficulty contacting other Filipinos owing to power outages in affected areas.
"Philippines Consulate General in Chicago remains in touch with local government agencies, American Red Cross and Filipino community," the Embassy added.
Lim said search and rescue operations are underway in the area.