Search, rescue, retrieval ops to continue in collapsed Porac mart —NDRRMC

Search, rescue and retrieval operations at the collapsed Chuzon Supermarket in Porac, Pampanga, will continue despite teams finding no signs of life from the ill-fated building.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), this was agreed upon during Thursday's briefing by concerned agencies and groups.

"As agreed during the briefing held on April 25 at the barangay hall of Barangay Cangatba, Porac, Pampanga, responders will continue to be on search, rescue and retrieval (SRR) mode which is still expected to last from two days to a week to complete," the NDRRMC said.

The four-storey Chuzon Supermarket collapsed Monday during the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that hit Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

Latest NDRRMC figures show 18 people were killed in the earthquake while 282 were injured and seven were missing.

The council also said 3,205 families or 14,901 persons were affected by the earthquake in 13 cities and municipalities in Central Luzon.

Of this number, 909 families or 3,381 persons are being served inside the evacuation centers and 951 families or 4,756 persons are accommodated outside the evacuation centers.

Regarding damage to properties, the NDRRMC has documented a total of 1,230 damaged houses (156 are totally damaged; 1,074 are partially damaged) in Bataan and Pampanga, and 138 damaged structures in Region III and the National Capital Region. —KBK, GMA News