Affected persons in Central Visayas quake reduced to 2.9 million

MASS BY THE RUINS Parishioners of Loboc town in Bohol province hear Mass at a kiosk beside the rubble of their church, which was built in 1602. Heritage churches in five other towns in the province were destroyed by last week’s earthquake. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—Affected persons from the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Central Visayas were reduced to 2.9 million on Tuesday after it reached as high as 3.5 million on earlier reports.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that as of Tuesday, there were 2,945,963 persons affected in 1,282 villages in six provinces of Western and Central Visayas.

Major Reynaldo Balido, NDRRMC spokesman, said that in determining affected persons, they usually include the whole population from a certain area based on data given by the census.

But as reports from the ground were validated, the figures decreased.

Last week, figures went up to 3,542,281 persons in 1,394 villages in six provinces of Western and Central Visayas.

As of Tuesday morning 190 were killed—177 in Bohol, 12 in Cebu and one in Siquijor.

Eleven were still missing in Bohol, including the five children who went swimming by a waterfall when the quake occurred.

There were 605 injured, 511 of which were from Bohol.

Damage to infrastructure reached close to P1 billion. A total of P902,730,000 worth of damaged roads, bridges, flood control, school buildings and other buildings.

In Cebu, a total of P132.25 million worth of damage was recorded, while in Bohol, there was P763.58 million.

Damage to properties in Siquijor was at P6.65 million, while there was P250,000 in Negros Oriental.

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