Abra quake leaves 44 hurt, affects 40,000 families — NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines — The magnitude 6.4 earthquake that hit Abra province on Tuesday left 44 persons hurt, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Thursday.

“So far, meron pong 44 injured persons reported sa atin,” NDRRMC  spokesperson Raffy Alejandro said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(So far, there are 44 injured persons reported to us.)

He added that the tremor also affected 132,208 individuals or about 40,000 families.

Alejandro noted that almost 200 families or 486 persons are now sheltered in temporary evacuation centers. Meanwhile, other displaced families are camped outside their houses or are now staying with their neighbors.

“Marami pa rin na hindi pumunta sa evacuation center. Nandu’n lang sa mga kapitbahay or sa harap ng bahay nila,” he said.

(Many people did not seek shelter in evacuation centers. They are at their neighbors’ houses or are camped in front of their homes.)

Based on latest data, over 600 aftershocks continue to hit the province.

“Mula kahapon hanggang ngayong umaga, nasa 600 plus na ang recorded aftershocks at ‘yun nga ang kinatatakot ng ating mga kababayan doon na kaya ayaw pa bumalik sa mga bahay nila hanggang ma-determine talaga na very safe o safe to occupy ‘yung mga facilities natin, including ‘yung mga houses,” said Alejandro.

(Since yesterday until this morning, around 600 aftershocks were recorded, and our countrymen fear that. That is why they do not want to return to their houses until it is declared very safe or safe to occupy.)

According to the NDRRMC, a total of 2,052 houses were damaged by the tremor. Of these, 2,043 are partially damaged while nine are totally damaged.

Meanwhile, the quake also left 125 infrastructures damaged at a cost of P53.7 million.

Tremors from the earthquake that struck Abra were felt as far as Metro Manila.

In July, Abra was also hit by a magnitude 7.0 tremor that killed 11 people.

/MUF