Death toll in magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao climbs to 19 —OCD

The reported death toll in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao has increased to 19, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Monday.

“Doon sa mga reports na natanggap natin, sa ngayon meron pong 19 na hindi nakaligtas doon sa lindol,” OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said in an interview.

(From the reports we have received, so far there are 19 who did not survive the earthquake.)

“Again, this is for verification and validation noong ating management of the dead and missing cluster,” he added.

(Again, this is for verification and validation of our management of the dead and missing cluster.)

Of the reported deaths, 16 were recorded in Soccsksargen, while three were reported in Davao Region.

In Soccsksargen, 10 of the fatalities were from General Santos, three from Glan, two from Tupi, and one from Malapatan, Sarangani.

Castillo said some fatalities were initially reported to have been caused by collapsed structures, falling debris, and landslides.

Based on the initial data, 12 people were reported missing in General Santos and 134 were reported injured. Of those injured, 129 were from Soccsksargen and five from Davao Region.

Around 10,000 families from Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat have been evacuated. Also, 700 families were affected.

Search, rescue, and retrieval operations are ongoing. —AOL, GMA News