State of calamity declared in Abra

A state of calamity was declared in the province of Abra on Thursday, due to massive destruction caused by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit northern Luzon the day before.

In Resolution No. 180, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Abra declared the entire province in a state of calamity after the destruction left by the earthquake and for other purposes.

Based on the initial report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), the damages caused by the earthquake have affected 80 percent of the total population and major infrastructures in the province.

“Such a disaster has destroyed power lines placing Abra into province brown out and the destruction of houses, buildings, and bridges have paralyzed the operation of business establishments likewise, displacing a lot of Abranios as they stay out of their homes without food,” the resolution read.

Due to the destruction, it also stated that five percent of the calamity reserve fund is “available and authorized to be utilized for the purpose and for other related purposes.”

The provincial government also requested immediate assistance from the national government agencies for disaster response, relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction support.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday that the death toll has risen to at least five.

The NDRRMC said a total of 12,945 individuals or 3,456 families in 149 barangays in Cordillera were affected by the earthquake.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the quake—earlier reported as magnitude 7.3—occurred at 8:43 a.m. on Wednesday and was located at 17.64°N, 120.63°E - 003 km N 45° W of Tayum in Abra. It had a depth of 17 kilometers. — BM, GMA News