8 dead in Pampanga after earthquake

MANILA, Philippines — Eight people died while 20 were hurt after a strong earthquake jolted Pampanga on Monday afternoon, an official from the Pampanga government said.

“Lima pa [yung namatay], yun na yung nirerescue nila pa, meron silang nakitang nakaipit nagpapakuha sila ng doctor na magaling para ilabas siya dahil naiwan ata yung paa ng isang nakita nila, nagpapadala kami ng doctor,” Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda told dzMM.

(Five were killed. They were the ones being rescued earlier. They sought the help of doctors so they can take them out of the rubble. We sent doctors.)

Pineda said two grandmothers were killed in Lubao town while three people were killed in a building that collapsed in Porac.

“Sa Barangay Sta. Cruz sa Lubao, dalawa. Tapos itong sa Porac yung naguhong building, tatlo na yung patay, sa ngayon tatlo na yung nakuhang patay kasi nirerescue na sila, makakapal yung debris,” she said.

(In Barangay Sta. Cruz in Lubao, there were two casualties. In Porac, a building collapsed. There were three people who died there. Three bodies were recovered.)

Pineda said three more were killed in three barangays in Porac after houses collapsed.

“Actually, dahil hapon na, ngayon yung 3 barangay ng Porac na nalaman lang namin na meron pang tatlong casualties na namatay. Bumagsak yata yung bahay. Kailan lang namin nalaman,” Pineda said.

(Actually we also received reports from three villages in Porac and we learned that there were three more casualties. Their houses collapsed. We just learned that now.)

Pineda said 20 people were rescued in a damaged building in Porac. The victims were brought to the nearest hospital, but some people were still trapped inside the building.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said they  sent 10 personnel to help in the search and rescue operations.

“MMDA to send a team composed of 10 personnel from its Public Safety Division to help in search and rescue operations at Porac, Pampanga. The team will leave at 9pm tonight,” MMDA said in a statement.

Meanwhile, all flights at the Clark International Airport were canceled after the quake.

Clark International Airport Corporation President Jim Melo said the airport will be closed for 24 hours to assess the extent of the damage and ensure its safety.

READ: Clark International Airport shut down after quake

A portion of the megadike in Pampanga was likewise damaged.

Located at the boundary of the City of San Fernando and the towns of Bacolor, Porac, and Sta. Rita, the 57-kilometer long megadike is known as Pampanga’s last defense against lahar.

The Sta. Catalina Church in Porac town was also “significantly damaged,” according to a post by the archdiocesan committee on church heritage.

The tremor was also felt in Baguio City, Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan.

In Pampanga, patients in a private hospital were evacuated as electricity supply in the City of San Fernando was cut off as a preemptive measure.

The crucifix at the belfry of St. Augustine Church in Lubao town, said to be Pampanga oldest church built by the Augustinians, was slightly damaged.

In Bataan, power outages hit Balanga City, Mariveles, Orani and Morong towns.

READ: Power outage hits Bataan, Pampanga after magnitude 6.1-quake

Meanwhile, the Bataan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has coordinated with various government agencies to respond to a fire that hit the Bataan Refinery Center in Limay town.

The concrete arch that separates Bataan and Pampanga provinces had a gaping crack and was deformed. — With reports from Joanna Rose Aglibot, Tonette Orejas, Maria Adelaida Calayag, Greg Refraccion, Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Villamor Visaya Jr., Armand Galang /ee

READ: Magnitude 6.1 earthquake shakes parts of Luzon