Filipina hit by debris from airport attack recalls terrifying incident

2026-03-02 - 09:37

By Ricky Laxa Staff Writer A 27-year-old Filipina working for an international restaurant chain at Terminal 1 of Kuwait International Airport was recently discharged from the hospital after being struck by iron debris during a drone attack. Camille Joy Dacanay, assigned to the airport’s food service division, recounted the harrowing experience as she recovered from her injuries. The incident occurred at approximately five in the afternoon when an explosion rocked the terminal. Dacanay was on her way to the restroom with a colleague when the blast sent debris flying across the facility. In the chaos that followed, she initially did not realize she had been hit. “I was in shock, and everything happened so fast,” she said. “It wasn’t until later that I noticed something lodged in my neck.” As emergency responders evacuated the area, Dacanay and her supervisor opted not to wait for an ambulance due to the confusion and instead boarded a bus to seek medical help. They first visited a nearby clinic, but staff informed them they lacked the equipment to safely remove the metal fragment. Dacanay was given an anti-tetanus shot and referred to Farwaniya Hospital, where doctors successfully extracted the debris. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah visited the hospital to check on the 13 victims injured in the attack. Dacanay expressed gratitude for the swift medical response, noting that the situation could have been far worse. “The airport had been closed two days earlier, so there were very few people inside mostly just employees,” she said. “If it had been a regular day, the casualties might have been much higher.” Medical staff conducted an X-ray to ensure no vital organs were damaged before proceeding with the extraction. Meanwhile, the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait immediately launched efforts to locate Dacanay after learning of her injury. Aisha Bhakit, an MWO officer, recounted receiving a call from Dacanay herself. “We rushed to the hospital to ensure she received all necessary assistance,” Bhakit said. Dacanay expressed deep appreciation for the MWO support during her ordeal. “It was terrifying, but in moments like these, you need strength and faith to pull through,” she said. After being discharged, she was granted a week of medical leave before resuming work. The incident has drawn attention to the dangers faced by overseas Filipino workers in conflict-prone regions, while Dacanay’s recovery serves as a testament to resilience amid adversity.