Bohol aftershocks torture sleepless survivors and hamper rescue efforts

Shortly after Tuesday's earthquake in Bohol, a baby was found in the ruins of a home, still in her hammock crying. Three-month-old Scarlette survived unscathed because she tumbled underneath a chair as debris fell around her. Many in this deeply devout province would call it a miracle.

There have been few such wonders since, as smaller tremors have kept rescuers away from damaged structures that yield falling objects with each jolt. Over a thousand aftershocks have occurred since the earthquake ripped through Bohol's gentle, rolling land.



Scarlette lives in a community near the earthquake's epicenter, which has been traced to an area straddling Sagbayan and Catigbian towns, according to vulcanologists.

The baby's lola, Marita Maldura, told GMA News TV's Kara David that her entire family survived along with the baby. "Nagpapasalamat ako sa Lord, na kahit anong nangyari dito sa aming bahay, heto pa kami, buhay pa ang lahat," she said.

But many others did not and still remain where they died. The death toll from the quake in Bohol and neighboring provinces rose to 158 on Thursday as the full scale of the disaster unfolded. There have been no more tales of "miracle rescues."

The aftershocks that continue to jolt communities physically are also shaking them emotionally and psychologically. Traumatized by the most devastating earthquake to strike the Philippines since a big one hit northern Luzon in 1990, many residents have refused to return to even slightly damaged homes, preferring to stay outdoors even as it began to rain on Thursday morning.

In its Thursday 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said at least 1,213 aftershocks had been recorded from Tuesday morning to 5 a.m. Thursday, of which 24 were felt.

Broken bridges and sliced roads have prevented heavy equipment and rescue teams from reaching isolated towns and desperate families.

One elderly woman's feet was shown on television protruding from the rubble in Loon, one of the worst hit towns. But her grandson was helpless as tremors rocked the ruins. "Konting galaw lang namin 'yung mga nakaharang doon (babagsak). Yung bahay kasi hindi na matibay ang foundation, gumagalaw agad," the grandson told GMA News as he gazed at the rubble.

Residents can only look to the heavens to understand how some survived while others did not. One heavily bruised child, Ken, was rescued by his father from the rubble of a computer shop in Sagbayan. But five of his friends playing games with him in the same shop were killed, according to a report on GMA News TV.

No relief except song

In Sagbayan, residents turned the municipal building into an evacuation center as some of them feared going home, while many no longer had homes to return to. Relief had also not arrived two days after the quake, and food and water were running low.

"Saging, namutol nalang mi og saging. Saging among gikaon. Walang bigas. Marami kami sa pamilya sa amoang tent, lima kami sa amoang tent, duha ka-kilo lang gihatag (we live off on bananas... rice is not available... we are five in our tent... we were only given two kilos of rice so far)," the resident said.

"One family, per one bottle of mineral water.... Sana tulungan kami, tubig na mainom, pagkain naming bigas, wala kaming bahay," the resident said.

In Loon, Bohol, residents set up tents beside the historical Nuestra Señora De La Luz Church, built in the 1800s, the biggest church in the province, which totally collapsed.

"Ninety percent is destroyed, the houses, the church, the market, it's destroyed," said Benjamin Aggenstin, a German tourist. "The people have no water, they have no gasoline, the people are looking for food. We saw two helicopters passed by but no one came. And the people are just sitting and waiting, no action."

Many communities still have no power. Their water systems were damaged. Local government personnel, who were supposed to be among the first responders, are also victims.

In Loboc, a town known for its church, pristine river, and musical population, songs sung by children were heard on Wednesday for the first time since the disaster. The renowned Loboc Children's Choir gathered next to the ruins of their town's heritage church to sing hymns of faith.

"Malungkot po kasi, wala na kaming simbahan," said Carmen Inson, an elementary school student and member of the choir, which sought to uplift its community in the only way it knew how. — Amanda Fernandez /Howie Severino/LBG, GMA News