NDRRMC: 2 dead, 72 injured in Leyte quake

Two people were confirmed dead while 72 were injured after Thursday afternoon's magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Leyte province, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The number of casualties is expected to increase as the NDRRMC continues to collate reports from the affected areas, NDRRMC spokesperson Mina Marasigan said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on Friday morning.

"Tuloy po ang pagkalap ng balita dahil mayroon pa tayong isa na fina-follow up with local government na maaari na madagdagan pa itong mga naitala nating mga injured," Marasigan said.

"We are getting information also from hospitals na binisita ng ating mga kababayan. Ito yung kinokolekta natin, 'yung identification ng mga kababayan natin na na-injure dahil sa malakas na pagyanig."

The NDRRMC has yet to determine the cause of death of the two fatalities.

Marasigan said the injuries were mostly caused by falling objects, including debris from collapsed ceilings and walls.

The quake hit 8km southwest of Jaro at a depth of 2km beneath the island of Leyte on Thursday afternoon. Caused by the movement of the Leyte segment of the Philippine fault, it was felt at intensity V in Tacloban City; Palo, Leyte; and Cebu City.

Initial results from the government's rapid damage assessment and needs analysis showed that most houses made of light materials or were located upland were totally damaged due to the quake which, according to the Philippine Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), originated from a mountain range.

Ormoc City is the particular focus of ongoing assessments as reports from local disaster councils indicate that it suffered the most damage.

"Dito sa Ormoc City, mayroon din tayong naa-undertake na assessment ng mga public facilities natin gaya ng ating mga paaralan, mga ating hospital. Kailangan nating masiguro dahil so far hanggang 5 a.m. kanina nakapagtala tayo ng 241 aftershocks at maaari pa ring maranasan iyon today hanggang sa mga darating pang araw," Marasigan said.

An emergency meeting was held by the local government of Ormoc City on Friday noon to assess the state of their constituents.

The quake also damaged facilities of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), resulting in total loss of electricity in the islands of Bohol, Samar and Southern Leyte.

Meanwhile, all survivors rescued from a collapsed building in Kananga, Leyte, will be checked for injuries and will undergo psychosocial help for possible trauma, Marasigan said.

"Na-rescue na po lahat 'yung anim so wala nang nananatili sa loob," she said. "Kailangan ma-check sila for injuries, mayroon din sa mga psychosocial help kasi usually kapag ganyan baka ma-trauma so kailangan din ng intervention." —KBK, GMA News