At least 2,963 people affected due to Batanes quakes —NDRRMC

At least 2,963 people or 911 families were affected by the series of earthquakes that hit Itbayat, Batanes on Saturday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s situational (NDRRMC) report on Sunday.

A total of eight dead, one missing, and 63 injured persons were reported. All injured people were brought to the Itbayat District Hospital.

The Philippine Air Force said it airlifted from Itbayat to Batanes six persons seriously injured. They were brought to the Batanes General Hospital for further treatment.

The affected families, who came from five barangays in Itbayat, are currently staying at the public market of Barangay San Rafael, according to the NDRRMC.

Due to the earthquakes—a magnitude 5.4 followed by a magnitude 5.9 temblor then a magnitude 5.4 aftershock—a total of 15 houses, two schools and two health facilities were damaged.

The Department of Health deployed a seven-man Trauma Medical Team who will facilitate the stress debriefing for earthquakes victims.

Also, the Department of Social Welfare and Development went on red alert status as they continued to monitor and give assistance to earthquake victims in Batanes. 

The Philippine Air Force said it deployed two teams of PAF Disaster Response Task Units from the 505th Search and Rescue Group and S-7 team to help in search and rescue operations along with the Philippine Marines Corps' 10th Battalion Landing Team, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard.

The Palace has conveyed its condolences to the relatives of those killed in the earthquake.

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to visit Batanes on Sunday. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News