Death toll rises in Visayas quake, 29 missing, 4 areas in Negros Oriental hit hardest

The death toll from Monday's magnitude-6.9 quake in Negros continued to rise Tuesday, with authorities fearing the count may continue to go up in the coming days.

 

On Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that while the number of confirmed dead stood at 15 as of 12:30 a.m., at least 29 are missing and feared dead.

 

"So far ang nabilang na bangkay 15. May 29 missing sa Guihulngan, natabunan ng landslide at pinangangambahang patay. Ang casualty report natin tataas hanggang mamaya," NDRRMC head Benito Ramos said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

On the other hand, he said they expect more casualty reports to come in once communication improves.

 

"Mahirap ang communication. Apektado ang cell site sa apat na areas," he said.

 

Military officials, meanwhile, placed the death toll at 43, with most of the casualties killed by landslides and collapsing buildings.

 

A separate report on dzBB Tuesday said more than 700 aftershocks have been recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology since the magnitude-6.9 quake jolted Negros before noon Monday.

 

Ramos said that as of Tuesday, Negros Oriental has suspended work and classes.

 

He added four areas in Negros Oriental were hit hardest: Guihulngan City; and La Libertad, Tayasan, and Jimalalud towns.

 

Citing reports reaching him, Ramos said most of the fatalities died after being hit by collapsing walls.

 

Fatalities

 

Of the 15 fatalities, those identified included:

 

 

At least 52 were injured, 40 of whom were not immediately identified.

 

Water needed

 

The NDRRMC said Guihulngan City presently needs drinking water as its water supply system was totally damaged. Electric facilities are still down. Also needed are tents as well as food for evacuees. –KG, GMA News