Mindanao quake deaths rise to 37

MANILA, Philippines, June 10 ------ The number of reported deaths due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook parts of Mindanao rose to 37 yesterday, with at least four persons still missing.

Latest reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least 479 people were injured. Of the fatalities, 33 are from Soccsksargen, including 13 in General Santos City, while the remaining four are from the Davao region.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that seven persons were swept away by strong water currents in General Santos City on Monday during the temblor – one of them died, two are missing and four survived. All are residents of Poblacion, Baluan, Maguindanao del Sur.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, at least 1,352 aftershocks were recorded and 391 were plotted, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. Of these, 35 were felt. Phivolcs said the aftershocks ranged from magnitude 1.3 to 6.4.

The NDRRMC said a total of 88,000 people were affected. Of this number, 19,635 persons are staying in 39 different evacuation centers. At least 51 different barangays were affected, including 26 in Soccsksargen, 19 in the Davao region and six in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula.

As of yesterday, initial estimated worth of damage to infrastructure stood at P15 million in Soccsksargen and Davao regions alone. Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 12 director Rodrigo Sosmeña said at least 47 infrastructure were damaged, with 19 roads impassable, nine bridges, one seaport and a local airport damaged by the quake.

The NDRRMC said search and rescue operations, damage assessment and provision of help and support to affected communities continue. Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communication Technology deployed free WiFi hotspots to restore vital communications across Region 12, after telecommunication lines were also affected.

The DICT, in collaboration with the OCD and local government units, established the access points in Glan municipal plaza, provincial disaster risk reduction management office in Alabel, Maasim evacuation center, incident management team (IMT) disaster office and OCD in General Santos City, IMT in Koronadal, South Cotabato and in Balut Island, Davao Occidental.

Source: philstar.com