DepEd: 10 schools in Itbayat damaged by twin quakes

Donations continue to arrive in quake-damaged Itbayat town in Batanes. (Photo by ARNEL COMAYA / Contributor)

MANILA, Philippines — Ten schools and 29 of their employees and students were affected by two strong earthquakes that hit Itbayat, Batanes last Saturday, July 27, the Department of Education (DepEd) reported Tuesday.

According to the DepEd initial report, Itbayat National Agriculture High School had two dead, one injured employee and 11 injured students, while three of its buildings were severely damaged.

At the Itbayat Central School, nine students were injured, while a Gabaldon heritage building and another structure were severely damaged.

Mayan Elementary School had two injured employees and two injured students. One of its six buildings was totally damaged and two others were severely damaged.

A student at Yawran Barrio School and an employee from Raele Integrated School were also injured, while one classroom of the latter was declared “unsafe for occupancy.”

DepEd also observed cracks at the Gabaldon heritage buildings of Ivana Elementary School, Chanarian Elementary School, Batanes National Science High School, Basco Central School and Uyugan Elementary School.

DepEd said it had started to “rehabilitate the affected schools and to extend the necessary assistance to the families of casualties and injured learners and personnel.”

Fatalities from the twin earthquakes that hit Batanes last Saturday have risen to nine.

Meanwhile, the Itbayat Municipal Council has already declared the town under a state of calamity.

RELATED

Death toll from Batanes twin quakes rises to 9

State of calamity declared in quake-hit Itbayat