Mindanao earthquake affected over 346,000 people — NDRRMC

More than 346,000 people have been affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its 8 a.m. Thursday report.

A total of 346,449 people or 75,324 families from Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were affected by the earthquake.

Of the affected population, 16,349 people or 3,515 families are staying in evacuation centers, while 29,260 people or 7,279 families are taking shelter in other places.

A total of 47 people were reported dead, including 35 in Soccsksargen and 12 in Davao Region.

Based on the update of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Wednesday, the reported death toll from the earthquake has climbed to 53.

The NDRRMC said 688 people were reported injured and 33 others were reported missing.

A state of calamity was declared in the following areas:

Davao Occidental (province-wide)

• Malapatan, Sarangani
• Glan, Sarangani
• General Santos City (Dadiangas), South Cotabato

The earthquake caused 37 landslides, seven tension cracks, and one tsunami alert, according to the NDRRMC.

A total of 45 road sections and eight bridges were affected. Of these, 37 roads and six bridges are now passable.

Power interruptions were experienced in 48 areas. Electricity supply has been restored in seven of the affected areas.

An affected airport in Soccsksargen remained non-operational but the two affected seaports in BARMM have resumed operations.

A total of 238 infrastructures were damaged in the earthquake.

Classes in 210 areas and work schedules in 113 areas have been suspended due to the earthquake’s impact.

Assistance worth P26,330,709 has been provided to the victims so far, according to the NDRRMC. — RSJ, GMA News