Mindanao quake fatalities now 68

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani last week has reached 68 with at least 33 people still missing.

As of yesterday, there were 1,338 reported injuries and quake-related illnesses, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Sarangani recorded the most number of deaths with 33 followed by South Cotabato with 24, Davao Occidental with 10 and Davao del Sur with one.

The temblor has affected more than 338,000 families or 1.38 million people mostly in Davao region and South-Central Mindanao.

More than 4.4 million families remain in 45 evacuation centers.

Latest situational report of the NDRRMC estimated the cost of damage to infrastructure at P1.07 billion and P29.8 million to agriculture.

Over 68,000 houses have been damaged by the quake and the aftershocks. Authorities have recorded 6,652 aftershocks since the quake occurred.

The NDRRMC said 14 cities and municipalities have been placed under a state of calamity, with more than P156.6 million and P8.1 million worth of assistance provided to affected families and local government units, respectively.

6.2 quake hits Davao Oriental

A magnitude 6.2 quake jolted Davao Oriental yesterday, with state seismologists clarifying it was not an aftershock of the Sarangani temblor.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said yesterday’s quake struck at 5:18 p.m., with its epicenter located approximately 113 kilometers southeast of Governor Generoso town.

Meanwhile, police have intensified coastal security in quake-hit villages to monitor movement of seafood and marine products as well as ensure public safety.

This developed after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported that the quake triggered a movement of the seabed in Glan, Sarangani and Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, resulting in the death of coral reefs and seagrass as well as of reef fish, eels, clams and other marine organisms.

Consumption of these products may be harmful to human health, authorities said. — Josiah Antonio, Mark Ernest Villeza