Local officials inspect buildings after t Masbate was struck by a magnitude 5 earthquake, which was followed by a magnitude 6 earthquake hours later on February 16, 2023. (Photo from Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office)
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 440 individuals were directly affected by the magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck Masbate last week, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Monday.
OCD Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro said the number corresponds to 96 families in 22 barangays in Masbate.
“As of kahapon, mayroong 22 barangays na directly affected ng lindol sa Masbate. And then mayroon tayong 96 families or 440 persons or individuals ang directly affected,” he said in a public briefing.
(As of yesterday, there were 22 barangays directly affected by the earthquake, 96 families or 440 individuals directly affected.)
Following the magnitude 5.0 earthquake in Dimasalang, Masbate, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck 10 kilometers southwest Butuan, Masbate at 2:10 a.m. on Thursday, February 16.
Masbate City suffered the most, as the earthquake generated an Intensity 7 jolt.
According to the OCD, 148 houses and 93 infrastructures sustained damage from the earthquake.
No casualties, however, were reported.
Alejandro assured Masbate residents that the government will provide proactive aid to the victims and repair damaged infrastructure.
“Ongoing po ‘yung assessment natin. Nandun po ang ating mga kasamahan from the regional offices. Tumutulong sa LGUs (local government units) para ma-assess ng maayos ‘yang damage sa Masbate at ma-restore ka-agad o maayos agad ‘yung mga kailangan ayusin po.”
(The assessment is going on. Our OCD regional offices and staff are helping local government units in properly assessing damage in Masbate and in quickly restoring and fixing what needs to be fixed.) (MJ Soriano, INQUIRER.net trainee)