Mindanao earthquake death toll now 55 —OCD

The reported death toll in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao has increased to 55, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Friday.

In an update, OCD deputy spokesperson Diego Mariano added that 1,120 people were reported injured while 31 others were reported missing following the strong earthquake on June 8.

On Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a total of 346,449 people or 75,324 families from Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were affected by the earthquake.

Of the affected population, 16,349 people or 3,515 families are staying in evacuation centers, while 29,260 people or 7,279 families are taking shelter in other places.

A state of calamity was declared in the following areas:

• Davao Occidental (province-wide)
• Malapatan, Sarangani
• Glan, Sarangani
• General Santos City (Dadiangas), South Cotabato

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, OCD deputy administrator Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

“Ito yung Glan and yung Jose Abad Santos na area kasi medyo yung highway na papunta doon ay marami pong mga landslide at tuloy-tuloy po ang clearing ng DPWH,” he said.

(These are Glan and Jose Abad Santos areas because the highway leading there has a lot of landslides and the DPWH is constantly clearing.)

“So, talagang ginagamitan natin ang helicopters and sea vessels. And of course, itong Balut Island. Ito lang po sila ang medyo hirap tayo,” he added.

(So, we are really using helicopters and sea vessels. And of course, in Balut Island. These are the only areas that are a bit difficult for us to reach.)

Coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is ongoing for road clearing operations.

Humanitarian assistance continues to be delivered to affected areas. However, some areas remain difficult to reach.

According to Alejandro, water supply is currently the most urgent need on the ground.

Government agencies are distributing shelter repair kits and temporary tents for displaced families.

Based on initial assessments, around 19,095 houses have been damaged, including around 3,500 that were totally destroyed.

Assistance packages worth P30,000 from the National Housing Authority (NHA) and P50,000 from the presidential aid will be provided to affected individuals for home construction and repair.

More help is expected from other donors, according to the OCD official. —VAL, GMA News