Abra records 1 dead, 64 injured due to magnitude 7 quake

One person died while 64 were injured in Abra following the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the province Wednesday morning.

"Meron po kaming isa. Nadaganan po ng semento kanina sa bahay nila," Abra Vice Governor Joy Bernos said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(We have one. The fatality was pinned by a wall that collapsed at their home.)

Bernos said the victim was a 23-year-old female living in Zone 5, Bangued, Abra.

Earlier in the day, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said one person was killed in Benguet following the earthquake. However, the information is "still being checked" by the LGU.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo said Abra has recorded 64 injured individuals.

"Sixty-four po as of 12 noon, 64 po ang injuries... sa buong Abra. Pero ongoing po eh, initial po 'yan. It keeps on, dumarating po (information keeps on coming)," Tulfo said.

According to Bernos, 25 families from Barangay Lumaba have also been evacuated.

"'Yung mga tao kasi dito nasa daan na sila kasi 'yun nga aftershock. Parang hindi nila nililikas 'yung bahay nila, nasa daan lang sila naka standby. And 'yung iba, 'yung iba wala pa kaming report kasi nga isolated 'yung ibang munisipyo pero yung initial report ay wala pa namang masyadong maraming evacuees natin," she said.

In a Facebook post, Tulfo announced that he has arrived in Abra.

Tulfo said they have released P10 million of cash as initial aid for those affected by the earthquake. He said the provincial office has also delivered 1,000 food boxes for the evacuees.—AOL, GMA News