Mindanao’s Tuesday earthquake death toll climbs to 8

MANILA, Philippines – The death toll in the magnitude 6.6 earthquake that rocked parts of Mindanao on Tuesday rose to eight, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.

In its latest situation report, the NDRRMC identified the fatalities as Jesriel Pabra from Davao Del Sur; Nestor Narciso, 66, from South Cotabato;  Samuel Linao Andy, 44;  Renee Corpuz Andy, 7; Marichelle Morla, 23; Patricio Lumayon, 65; Pao Zailon Abdulah, 64 and Isidro Gomez, 63.

Abdulah and Gomez succumbed to cardiac arrest while the rest were killed by falling debris or collapsing structures, NDRRMC said.

At least 395 others were injured while two persons were reported missing due to a landslide in Barangay Upper Bala in Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur.

Meanwhile, a total of 25,630 persons belonging to 5,126 families were affected by the earthquake. Of this number, 12,760 persons in 2,552 families are in temporary shelters in 19 evacuation centers.

A total of 2,704 infrastructure were reported damaged due to the incident, the council added.

On October 29, 23 municipalities and cities experienced power interruption in the provinces of Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, according to the NDRRMC. Power was restored on the same day.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has provided a total of P949,358 worth of cash assistance to affected families in North Cotabato.

As of Wednesday, a total of 590 aftershocks were recorded, ranging from magnitude 1.5 to 6.1. The NDRRMC said 282 of these were plotted and 86 were felt.

Another power temblor, measured at magnitude 6.5, rattled Cotabato and nearby provinces anew Thursday morning.  /gsg, je