Cotabato quake victims face water, food, tent shortage

Cotabato folk who have survived the earthquake swarms this week are now facing new battles with the shortage in water, fuel and sleeping tents.

In Kidapawan City, drums, pails, and bottles were seen lined up in one community as the residents waited for water rations, according to a Friday report by Raffy Tima on GMA News' 24 Oras .

"Kahit san-san na kami nakarating, wala talagang water supply. Kailangan na kailangan talaga namin ng maiinom. Yun lang ang aming hinihiling sa kanila," a resident said.

Local supplier Metro Kidapawan Water District said may take as long as five days to restore the supply.

Motorcycles were also seen lining up for fuel refill in a gasoline station.

Makilala town

In another 24 Oras report by Ivan Mayrina, residents of Makilala town spend their days in tents for fear of aftershocks.  They are also appealing for water, food and more tents as the impact of the devastation sets in.

In Barangay Garsika, residents rushed when their water rations came.

"Ang mahalaga para mapresko yung katawan kasi malakas ang lindol mawawala rin ang nerbyos," a resident said.

Barangay Buhay in Makilala town was abandoned by its residents as no structure was spared by the magnitude 6.5 earthquake which hit parts of Mindanao on Thursday.

The barangay has been identified by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology as one of the no-build zones because of a discovered fault line.

"Bago sa amin itong mga fault lines. Hindi naman ito uso until October 16 na may naramdaman kami at sunod-sunod na nga. Etong earthquake kasi, everyday may dumadagdag," Cotabato Vice Governor Lala Talino-Mendoza said.

Barangay Batasan, menawhile, resembled a ghost town as its residents evacuated for fear of a landslide.

Aftershocks further sank Eva hotel, which is now in near collapse because of Thursday's quake.

"Yun na nga po kanina napaiyak na lang kami kasi nga naging pangalawang bahay na namin. Ito na yung naging pangalawang bahay namin, napamahal na kami. Hindi lang sa may-ari pati na rin sa building," Bernie Alamis, hotel front desk officer, said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News