Philippines Verifies Earthquake Casualties: 45 Dead, 630 Injured
The Philippine Office of Civil Defence (OCD) on Wednesday verified reports of 45 fatalities from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Maasim, Sarangani, and several other provinces on Monday.
OCD Deputy Administrator for Administration Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, during an interview with DZMM, explained the fatalities came from the Davao and Soccsksargen regions. According to him, 18 fatalities were reported in Sarangani, 15 in South Cotabato, 11 in Davao Occidental, and one in Davao del Sur. He also stated they are validating reports concerning 17 missing persons; 13 in Davao Occidental and four in General Santos City.
The agency also recorded 630 people reported injured. Alejandro clarified that number is still being validated and may change.
The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 33,596 families, or 149,372 people, spread across the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao have been affected by the disaster. A total of 8,813 families, or 32,464 people, are receiving assistance in 57 evacuation centres, whilst another 1,804 families, or 8,973 people, are receiving assistance outside evacuation centres. Other affected residents have sought refuge with relatives.
The NDRRMC explained that 2,499 houses sustained partial damage, and 495 houses were totally destroyed. The damage was recorded across the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen.
Military assists in search and rescue
The Philippine Army deployed an urban search and rescue (USAR) team comprising 18 personnel to General Santos City, as search and rescue efforts by several government agencies intensify in the earthquake-affected areas. Philippine Army Spokesperson Colonel Louie Dema-ala said the 10th Infantry Division has deployed 200 personnel to General Santos City, the area hardest hit by infrastructure damage. The humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) teams came from one platoon of the 10th Emergency Response Company, three platoons from Task Force Gensan, one platoon from the 1002nd Infantry Brigade, and one company from the 28th Infantry Battalion.
Meanwhile, the 6th Infantry Division deployed 53 personnel from 12 HADR teams drawn from the 105th Infantry Battalion and the 37th Infantry Battalion to General Santos City; Maitum, Kiamba, and Maasim in Sarangani; and Lebak in Sultan Kudarat. Several support vehicles were also deployed, including eight KM-250 trucks, five KM-450 trucks, two patrol vehicles, and three motorcycles. Additionally, 530 personnel from 53 HADR teams of the 10th Infantry Division and 77 personnel from nine HADR teams of the 6th Infantry Division are on standby, along with 56 military trucks and one patrol car.
“The Philippine Army is working closely with national government agencies and local government units to ensure a swift and coordinated response to the destructive earthquakes in the region,” said Dema-ala.