At least eight killed in earthquakes in Itbayat, Batanes

At least eight people were killed after a series of earthquakes struck Itbayat, Batanes on Saturday morning, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Two of the victims were babies, according to a report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

The town was initially hit with a magnitude 5.4 earthquake, which was followed by a stronger magnitude 5.9 earthquake just around three hours later.

An aftershock measuring magnitude 5.4 occurred two hours after.

Roldan Esdicul, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer in Batanes, told Dobol B sa News TV the victims were inside their old limestone houses sleeping when the magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred at 4:16 a.m.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said at least 60 persons were reported injured due to the collapsed houses after the first earthquake.

The Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) identified the victims as follows:

• Genward Mina
• Eva Valiente
• Mary Rose Valiente
• Fiona Valiente
• Teresita Gulaga
• Fausta Caan
• Tito Asa, 89

The PRO2 said the identity of the five-day-old baby among the victims was still unknown as of the report.

Hilda Garcia from the Itbayat Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office told Super Radyo dzBB that at least 800 families in Itbayat have been affected.

However, the Police Regional Office 2 said 911 families or 2,963 individuals have been evacuated as of 10:30 a.m. and are staying in 11 evacuation centers.

Damaged structures reported as of Saturday morning include the belfry of Nuestra Señora Del Rosario church, which incurred cracks before collapsing completely later on.

First quake

The magnitude 5.4 earthquake had its epicenter at 20.90°N, 121.85°E - 012 km north 04° east of Itbayat, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

At least 60 people were injured and brought to the nearby hospital for treatment, according to Esdicul in a later interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

However some needed to be brought to the mainland of Batan, two hours away, for further treatment.

"Dadalhin po 'yung mga wounded sa Basco (in Batan) para malapatan ng paunang lunas dahil hindi po kumpleto ang kagamitan sa ospital nila doon," Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Esdicul said they are awaiting the arrival of military planes from the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Northern Luzon Command to transport the injured to the mainland as of posting time.

He added that many old houses made of limestone gave way during the earthquake.

"Ang Itbayat ang hardly hit. Dito po sa Basco, hindi kami masyadong apektado," Cayco said.

The office of Cayco shared some photos of the damage in the aftermath of the quake.

LOOK: Pinsalang idinulot ng dalawang malakas na lindol sa Itbayat, Batanes kaninang umaga. (????: Steve Labrador, Executive Secretary of Gov. Marilou H. Cayco / @philredcross) | via @Isa_Umali pic.twitter.com/8hQAt2FCOe

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 27, 2019

Itbayat Mayor Raul De Sagon said on Dobol B sa News TV that residents are now staying at the plaza for their safety since their old homes may not be sturdy enough.

"Ni-request ko na po kay Mayor na dalhin ang mga tao sa plaza," Cayco said.

Esdicul said around 1,000 residents were at the plaza on Saturday morning.

Netizen Agnes Salengua Nico also shared with GMA News photos of some houses damaged by the earthquake.

Since the magnitude 5.4 earthquake was shallow with a depth of only 12 kilometers, it was felt stronger, according to PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum.

"Mababaw ang lindol at malakas ang pagdating," he told Dobol B sa News TV.

It was felt at Intensity VI in Itbayat, and Intensity III in Basco and Sabtang in Batanes, according to PHIVOLCS.

Second quake

Just three hours after the magnitude 5.4 earthquake, another one occurred at 7:38 a.m., this time stronger at magnitude 5.9. It was previously reported at magnitude 6.4.

Its epicenter was located at 20.82°N, 121.67° east - 019 km north 81° west of Itbayat.

The quake was tectonic and had a depth of focus of 43 kilometers.

This second earthquake was felt at Intensity IV in Basco, Batanes.

Solidum said damage and aftershocks are to be expected.

One such aftershock measuring magnitude 5.4 occurred at 9:24 a.m.

No tsunami threat was raised since the earthquake was not strong enough to trigger a tsunami, he added.

However, authorities advised against sea travel.

"Wala pong advise na may tsunami pero pinasabihan na po namin ang mga sasakyang pandagat na huwag pumalaot," Cayco said.

Solidum said the last earthquake that occurred in Batanes was on July 16, 2000.

No classes, power

De Sagon said he canceled classes in all levels and work in offices on Saturday.

He added that the municipality has enough supplies to deal with the disaster, but they need help from additional medical personnel.

"We have stockpiles for disaster. Ang kailangan namin ay mga doktor at psychiatrist," he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Sagon said power went out during the second earthquake.

Cayco also said they need food, water, and portable generator sets. 

NDRRMC

NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said all affected residents have so far been accounted for, and that none of the victims were pinned beneath fallen rocks.

"Hindi naman nadaganan, ano lang nalaglagan ng mga bato-bato," he said.

"Kasi accounted naman lahat ng mga ano nila, accounted, walang missing na naipit na ganu'n, accounted naman, so mga ano lang 'yun, nalaglagan o natabunan ng mga bato bato na, mga debris," he added.

The NDRRMC chief said Basco was on "heightened alert" but there were still some difficulties in sending planes to Itbayat as of Saturday morning.

"Naka-heightened alert na 'yung Basco, Batanes province kaya lang hindi pa sila, hindi sila makakilos kasi wala naman silang, kasi itong Itbayat, ang access lang nila du'n ay bangka so nagpadala tayo ng eroplano," Jalad said.

"Kaya lang, 'yung eroplano is medyo pipigilan muna natin 'yan once nandu'n sa Tuguegagarao, kasi itse-check natin 'yung safety ng airport baka hindi pwedeng lumapag," he added.

"Kasi from time to time may aftershocks pa e, but pinalipad na natin," Jalad said.

Damage, troops

Citing initial information, Jalad said several houses and structures incurred damage from the quake and the aftershock.

PRO2 also said 30 troops and 30 standby troops have been deployed. —with a report from Margaret Claire Layug/KG/LBG, GMA News