Mindanao quake deaths rise to 37

MANILA, Philippines —  The number of reported deaths due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook parts of Mindanao on Monday rose to 37 yesterday, with at least four persons still missing.

Latest reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least 479 people were injured.

Of the fatalities, 33 are from Soccsksargen, including 13 in General Santos City, while the remaining four are from the Davao region.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that seven persons were swept away by strong water currents in General Santos City on Monday during the temblor – one of them died, two are missing and four survived. All are residents of Poblacion, Baluan, Maguindanao del Sur.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, at least 1,352 aftershocks were recorded and 391 were plotted, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said. Of these, 35 were felt.

Phivolcs said the aftershocks ranged from magnitude 1.3 to 6.4.

The NDRRMC said a total of 88,000 people were affected. Of this number, 19,635 persons are staying in 39 different evacuation centers.

At least 51 different barangays were affected, including 26 in Soccsksargen, 19 in the Davao region and six in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula.

As of yesterday, initial estimated worth of damage to infrastructure stood at P15 million in Soccsksargen and Davao regions alone.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 12 director Rodrigo Sosmeña said at least 47 infrastructure were damaged, with 19 roads impassable, nine bridges, one seaport and a local airport damaged by the quake.

The NDRRMC said search and rescue operations, damage assessment and provision of help and support to affected communities continue.

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communication Technology deployed free WiFi hotspots to restore vital communications across Region 12, after telecommunication lines were also affected.

The DICT, in collaboration with the OCD and local government units, established the access points in Glan municipal plaza, provincial disaster risk reduction management office in Alabel, Maasim evacuation center, incident management team (IMT) disaster office and OCD in General Santos City, IMT in Koronadal, South Cotabato and in Balut Island, Davao Occidental.

Military response

The Eastern Mindanao Command said it has mobilized its forces and activated disaster response operations.

EastMinCom commander Lt. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio placed all units on heightened readiness and directed them to conduct rapid assessments, coordinate with local government units and disaster response agencies and provide immediate support to affected communities.

In General Santos City, Orio led rapid damage assessment and needs analysis activities. Task Force General Santos deployed response teams for initial assessments, while additional troops and assets from the 6th Infantry Division augmented local disaster response operations.

Units from the 10th Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, Tactical Operations Wing Eastern Mindanao and the 52nd Engineer Brigade remain ready to provide engineering, transportation, communications, medical and search-and-rescue assistance as needed.

The PCG, for its part, deployed 150 additional personnel and two trained search and rescue dogs yesterday to help search for possible earthquake survivors in General Santos City.

On Monday, the coast guard helped rescue at least 1,695 people in Sultan Kudarat.

PGC spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said sea voyage for all types of vessels remains suspended in parts of Mindanao like Sarangani and Davao Occidental.

At least 2,092 police officers were deployed for a full-scale response in areas in Mindanao following Monday’s quake.

The police personnel are serving as augmentation forces, maintaining peace and order in evacuation centers and helping in road clearing operations to ensure delivery of relief goods to the affected communities is unhampered.

“Our local police offices in the affected provinces are already coordinating with other government agencies to immediately provide the needs of affected residents,” Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.

Meanwhile, at least 228 police officers and 13 non-uniformed personnel affected by the earthquake are receiving assistance.

Four police stations and two regional headquarters sustained damage due to the quake.

The Bureau of Fire Protection has mobilized 969 of its personnel and 141 search, rescue and retrieval vehicles to Mindanao. Among the assets are 103 fire trucks, 23 ambulances and 14 rescue trucks.

Destroyed classrooms

At least 199 classrooms were destroyed by Monday’s earthquake, the Department of Education said.

DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service said that as of 10 a.m. yesterday, major damaged classrooms totaled 296; minor damaged classrooms, 896 and damaged facilities, 14.

At least 267 public schools suffered damage including 115 in Sultan Kudarat; 57 in South Cotabato; 36 in Compostela Valley; 17 in Bukidnon; 13 in North Cotabato; eight in Sarangani; six in Surigao del Sur; four in Agusan del Sur; four in Davao Del Sur; three in Zamboanga del Sur; and one each in Davao Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Zamboanga del Norte.

DepEd said at least 8,208 schools in six regions in Mindanao suspended in-person classes to ensure the safety of the learners.

The agency said it will release at least P43.904 million for the repair of classrooms with minor damage; and another P7.787 million for the cleanup and clearing operation of 267 affected schools.- Evelyn Macairan, Gerry Gorit, Josiah Antonio, Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso, Roel Pareño, John Unson