The medical staff and patients at the Abra Provincial Hospital rushed outside as a 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the province on Wednesday morning. The quake damaged the hospital. (Photos from Facebook page of Abra Vice Gov. Jocelyn Bernos)
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 53 health facilities were reportedly damaged by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit the province of Abra, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday.
According to DOH assistant spokesperson Usec. Beverly Ho, the damaged facilities include eight hospitals, 28 rural health units and 18 barangay (village) health stations.
Meanwhile, Ho said the Centers for Health Development in the Cordillera Administrative Region had already reported 272 injuries, including 19 hospital admissions.
It also recorded four deaths, with another four missing.
Ho said DOH Assistant Secretary Nestor Santiago is now in Abra to assess the damage left by the earthquake.
“Nandoon siya upang alamin ang estado ng lugar at magpaabot ng tulong (he is there to find out the state of the area and extend help),” said Ho during a media briefing.
“Nasa ground na rin po ang ating team katuwang ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Abra (our team is also on the ground in cooperation with the local government of Abra),” she added.
The Health undersecretary also assured that the DOH had sent trucks containing 20 tents, 200 cot beds, hygiene kits, medicines, and other supplies.
Medical teams have also been deployed to the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center and the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center to assist the injured.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that aftershocks might happen for several days and even months.
As of 7:00 a.m., Thursday, Phivolcs said it had recorded 808 total aftershocks ranging from magnitude 1.5 to 5.0
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