Cebu earthquake’s injured persons increase to 559 —NDRRMC

The number of injured people due to the devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu has increased to 559, according to the data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) released Friday morning.

In its 6 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said a total of 366,360 people or 80,595 families were affected by the earthquake.

Of the affected population, a total of 1,795 people or 365 families were staying in evacuation centers while 75,227 people or 15,092 families were taking shelter in other places.

The NDRRMC reported that the Cebu earthquake death toll was at 68, lower than the 72 stated in their previous report. GMA News Online has reached out to the NDRRMC about the decrease in the recorded fatalities but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD), meanwhile, reported a death toll of 73 as of Thursday night. 

OCD deputy spokesperson Diego Mariano told reporters in a message that the source of the earlier report with 73 deaths was the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

“However, for the latest report (68 dead), it is from the Management of the Dead and Missing cluster, which is led by Department of the Interior and Local Government, here is where the dead are stringently accounted for,” he said.

“The numbers may increase or decrease as validation of the MDM led by DILG is ongoing,” he added.

Incidents of landslide, structural fire, collapsed structure, and chemical leak were also reported.

A total of 5,013 houses were damaged—4,355 partially and 658 totally. A total of 335 infrastructures were also damaged due to the earthquake.

Three of the seven affected road sections and five of the 11 affected bridges were still not passable. 

Power supply was still not available in 52 of the 89 affected areas. Communication line issues were still encountered in the 12 affected areas. 

Three seaports remained non-operational, leaving 214 passengers stranded.

Classes in 113 areas and work schedules in 27 areas have been suspended due to the impact of the earthquake.

A state of calamity was declared in the entire province of Cebu.

Assistance worth P12,626,557 has been provided to the victims so far, according to the NDRRMC. —VAL, GMA Integrated News