MANILA, Philippines — Damage to infrastructure due to the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Surigao del Sur on Dec. 2 has ballooned to P1.1 billion, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported yesterday.
The OCD said 327 structures were damaged in Davao region and 798 in Caraga.
Bridges, roads, schools and health stations were among those affected.
At least 2,536 houses were damaged and five were destroyed in Davao while 5,419 were damaged and 333 were destroyed in Caraga.
The OCD said it is still validating the reported death of three persons due to the quake. Only 12 of the 74 reported injured have been confirmed, it added.
The government has provided more than P84 million in assistance to earthquake victims.
Up to 178,814 families or 720,997 people were affected.
Aftershocks of the strong quake had continued more than a week after it struck, according to state seismologists.