Mindanao earthquake death toll rises to 53 — BFP

The reported death toll from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao has climbed to 53, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said on Wednesday.

“Ang bilang naman po sa aming naitala dito na ibinato po sa aming Emergency Operation Center ay meron nang 53 cadavers na na-retrieve,” BFP spokesperson Fire Superintendent Anthony Arroyo said in an interview on "Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon."

(Based on the information received by our Emergency Operation Center, we have so far recorded 53 retrieved cadavers.)

Arroyo said some of the recovered bodies have yet to be identified.

“Ang iba doon po, validation kasi inaalam pa po ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga nasabing bangkay po,” he added.

(Some of them are still undergoing validation as authorities continue to determine their identities.)

The figure is higher than the 45 reported fatalities cited by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in its Tuesday report.

The agency said 33 deaths were recorded in SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) and 12 in the Davao Region, although all figures remain "subject to validation."

The BFP remains on full alert (Code Red) in the Davao Region and SOCCSKSARGEN, with all personnel on standby as authorities continue assessing damage and responding to the earthquake's aftermath.

Arroyo said a total of 3,441 BFP personnel in the two regions are currently under full alert status.

He added that four fire stations in SOCCSKSARGEN sustained damage from the earthquake.

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said government responders have already reached areas that were initially isolated by the disaster, although access remains difficult in some locations due to damaged roads and other infrastructure, particularly in parts of SOCCSKSARGEN.

The Department of Education (DepEd), citing initial assessments, reported that around 6,224 schools across the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga were affected by the earthquake.

More than 3.2 million students, along with about 128,000 teachers and school personnel, were also affected, the agency said..

SOCCSKSARGEN sustained the heaviest damage, with 554 schools reporting varying degrees of destruction.

“Lahat po actually ng anim na region sa Mindanao ang apektado nito. At ang pinaka-apektado talaga ay ang SOCCSKSARGEN," said DepEd Assistant Secretary Jocelyn Andaya in an interview on "Unang Balita."

(All six regions in Mindanao were affected by the earthquake, with SOCCSKSARGEN sustaining the most damage.)

"As of last night, 554 schools ang apektado po nito. Yan yung may minor damage, major damage, at totally damaged,” she added.

(As of last night, 554 schools were affected, ranging from those with minor damage to those that were severely or totally damaged.)

Andaya said some schools require only minor repairs, while others may need new facilities to replace heavily damaged structures.—MCG, GMA News