Death toll in Manay, Davao Oriental earthquakes climbs to 8 — NDRRMC

The reported death toll from the consecutive earthquakes that struck Manay, Davao Oriental on Friday has risen to eight, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday morning.

All of the fatalities were reported in the Davao Region and CARAGA. All are still subject to validation, according to the latest NDRRMC situational report released at 6 a.m.

Injured individuals currently stand at 395, while no one was reported missing.

The data is currently under verification according to the NDRRMO.

At least three miners were killed in Pantukan, Davao de Oro, after the magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes hit Manay, the Davao de Oro government said Sunday.

“Nasa mining site kasi sila tapos may gumuho na lupa, natamaan sila ng malalaking bato,” Anecito Aguilar Torrejos, Davao de Oro government spokesperson, told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

(The miners were at a mining site when the soil collapsed and they were hit by big rocks.)

He added that the victims’ bodies were recovered while the rest of the miners were rescued.

Meanwhile, the earthquake has so far left 395 injured individuals from the Davao Region and CARAGA, while no one was reported missing.

The data is currently under verification according to the NDRRMO.

The earthquake also affected 125,283 families or 491,258 persons, of which 1,939 families or 8,440 persons were served in 14 evacuation centers.

So far, the Davao Region and CARAGA incurred P100,258,000 worth of infrastructure damage with 273 damaged infrastructures.

A total of 32 road sections and 7 bridges were affected by the earthquakes.

Of these infrastructure, 5 road sections and 3 bridges remain impassable.

In an online briefing Sunday afternoon, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) said almost P27 million worth of assistance was provided to the affected residents in Davao Region and CARAGA. 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it distributed 24,358 family food packs, at least 3,600 ready-to-eat food, and almost 2,500 non-food items. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Health is transferring the patients and staff of a damaged hospital in Manay, Davao Oriental to another building for safety.

Comprehensive plan

OCD deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office plans to craft a comprehensive plan to educate the public on earthquakes.

“Kailangan po talagang i-heighten ang ating information, education, and campaign regarding earthquakes,” Alejandro said.

(We need to heighten our information, education, and campaign regarding earthquakes.)

“So nakikita po natin ang importansya ng pagbigay importansya ng enhanced earthquake protocols at ating campaign para ma-educate ang ating mga kababayan on what to do during and immediately after an earthquake. So kailangan po natin i-localize ang lahat ng mga protocols,” he added. 

(We see the importance of disseminating enhanced earthquake protocols and education so that the public will immediately know during or immediately after the earthquake. We need to localize all our protocols.)

PHIVOLCS earlier explained that the second earthquake that hit Manay, Davao Oriental was not an aftershock but the latter half of a doublet, which refers to two closely-timed earthquakes happening nearby.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News