Davao Oriental earthquake death toll rises to six

The number of people who died in the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck off Manay, Davao Oriental, on Friday morning has reached six, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). 

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At least three died in Mati City, Davao Oriental, while two fatalities were recorded in Pantukan, Davao de Oro.

In Davao City, an 80-year-old man died after being hit by a collapsing concrete wall in Purok 3, Soliman, in Barangay Tomas Monteverde, according to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

DCPO said the old man was sitting when the wall collapsed suddenly during the strong tremor.

One of those who died in Mati City was a 57-year-old woman who also got pinned by a perimeter wall of an office behind the boarding house where she was staying.

According to the Mati City Information Office, the woman reportedly went back to retrieve her towel during the earthquake. As she was running away, the wall collapsed and fell on her.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake damaged several structures in various areas in Mindanao.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) first recorded the earthquake at magnitude 7.6 but downgraded it to 7.5 and later to 7.4.

Just hours later at 7:12 p.m., a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred, still off Manay town, which is now in a state of calamity. 

The evening earthquake had a depth of 37 km.

Residents of coastal communities of several provinces, including Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental, were evacuated after tsunami warnings were issued as a result of the earthquakes. 

Nearly 107,000 individuals have been affected by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.

As of 6 p.m., the DSWD said the affected population stood at 106,794, representing 22,641 families in Davao Region and Caraga. There are 12 evacuation centers that serve 2,432 families or 11,488 individuals.

One house was completely damaged, and 28 houses were partially damaged, the DSWD said.

Almost 800 aftershocks were recorded by PHIVOLCS as of Saturday morning. —GMA Regional TV/VBL/KG, GMA Integrated News