Afraid of aftershocks, some Abra residents line up for tents, water

Still afraid to return to their homes because of aftershocks and uncertain of the safety of their houses, some residents of Bangued, Abra lined up for tents and water after the Magnitude 7 quake hit Northern Luzon on Wednesday.

According to a report by GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan’s Ivy Hernando on "24 Oras," residents formed queues to get tents that will serve as their temporary shelter after the powerful quake.

“Pasilungan lang namin matulog. Kasi po natakot kaming matulog sa bahay namin,” resident Lilia Vargas said.

(It will serve as our shelter when we go to sleep because we are afraid to return to our house.)

The family of resident Pepito Bargas stayed under the bamboo tree after the powerful quake.

“Takot kaming matulog sa loob ng bahay dahil nagigiba naman na. Hindi pa tapos,” Bargas said.

(We were afraid to sleep inside the house because it has been damaged. The aftershocks are also not over yet.)

Meanwhile, residents also lined up at a water refilling station to get clean water.

“Nahihirapan kami sa pagpapa-refill dahil sarado lahat ang mga establishment,” resident John Cleo Sid-Ay said.

(We were having trouble getting refills because all the establishments are closed.)

Some were in line since Wednesday but their water gallons have yet to be filled.

“Nawalan ng kuryente kahapon hindi kami nakapag-igib kasi,” resident Junie Briones said.

(The electricity was cut off yesterday because of that we were unable to store water.)

“Baka mag-extend po kasi marami kaming kakargahan” Gershon Rosario, employee of water refilling station, said.

(Our services will be extended because there are lots of water gallons to fill.)

The Bangued water district, on the other hand, was also giving fresh water in those areas without water supply until now.

More than 5,000 residents were evacuated throughout the province, while over 2,300 families or 5,300 individuals were affected by the earthquake.

A state of calamity was declared in the province of Abra on Thursday.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) chief Renato Solidum said a total of 828 aftershocks have been recorded as of 11 a.m. on Thursday.

The PHIVOLCS said incidents of aftershocks are expected to continue in the next several weeks following the magnitude 7 earthquake. -Richa Noriega/NB, GMA News