Rescue operation at Pampanga supermarket temporarily stopped

Rescuers pull out a male survivor out of the rubbles of Chuzon supermarket. INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

PAMPANGA, Philippines — Rescue operations at Chuzon supermarket in Porac town have been temporarily suspended to ensure the safety of rescuers, following a temblor that jolted this province early Wednesday morning.

“Pina-stop namin para sa safety ng mga rescuer natin, alam naman natin kahit nagre-rescue tayo, baka naman ‘yung mga rescuer natin ‘yung malagay sa hindi maayos na kalagayan,” said Porac Mayor Condralito dela Cruz in an interview.

“Kaya pinahinto muna natin para madagdagan kung paano natin magawa ‘yung safety nila,” he added.

As of this posting, nine bodies were already retrieved from the rubble of the supermarket that caved in immediately after the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that hit parts of Luzon on April 22.

Around 2 a.m. Wednesday, earthquake rocked Pampanga again, prompting the temporary suspension of the rescue efforts.

Dela Cruz said rescue operations would continue once deployment among personnel has been fixed. He, nevertheless, noted that lifters, or the equipment that can carry heavy boulders, have been readied to aid in rescue efforts.

“‘Yung pinaka tinamaan na medyo delikado, para hindi mabagsakan ng kung ano ‘yung rescuers natin, ‘yun ang itatali natin sa mga lifter tapos ililipat dahan-dahan,” he explained.

“Lahat ng mabibigat na debris, itatali ‘yan, para ‘yung mga maliliit na bagay wala nang epekto sa rescuers kapag bumaba,” he added. /kga