Navy sailors, ships ready to assist in quake-stricken Mindanao —Empedrad

The Philippine Navy on Friday said that its sailors and assets were ready to provide humanitarian as well as disaster response assistance in quake-stricken areas in Mindanao.

Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, the Navy's Flag Officer in Command, ordered raising the alert levels on floating assets, as well as activating the disaster response and rescue teams.

"Your Navy is one with our people in the eastern Mindanao to provide the necessary assistance that we can provide to offer. We have our vessels available if needed," Empedrad said.

The BRP Davao del Sur (LD602) was on standby for the transportation of donations and relief goods from Manila to areas hit by the strong earthquakes.

The BRP Conrado Yap was in Davao and that was also on standby to be deployed to provide assistance.

At least three strong earthquakes struck Mindanao this October. On October 16, six people were killed while 93 others were injured from a magnitude 6.3 earthquake.

Last Tuesday, October 29, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake rocked Tulunan, North Cotabato.

Two days later, a magnitude 6.5 quake again hit some areas in Mindanao, collapsing a hotel in Kidapawan City and a portion of a condominium in Davao City.

The death toll on the latest earthquakes had reached 16. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also reported that number of injured had reached 403.

Meanwhile, two persons were reported missing.

The recent earthquakes had affected more than 30,000 individuals in Regions XI and XII.

On Friday, a magnitude-5.5 quake also struck Sarangani province. And just hours later, another tremor struck Cotabato, with a magnitude of 5.0.

The PHIVOLCS warned that Mindanao would experience more earthquakes until December. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA News