Mindanao quake. Photo courtesy of Jurel Bayang/PNA.
The reported death toll from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao rose to 55, the Office of Civil Defense reported Friday.
OCD deputy spokesperson Diego Mariano said 1,120 people were also reported injured, while 31 others remained missing after the June 8 quake.
The latest figures came after the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 346,449 people, or 75,324 families, had been affected across the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro region.
Of the affected population, 16,349 people were staying in evacuation centers, while 29,260 others were temporarily staying in other shelters or with relatives.
A state of calamity had been declared in Davao Occidental, Malapatan and Glan in Sarangani, and General Santos City in South Cotabato.
OCD deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro said search and rescue operations were still ongoing, particularly in Glan and Jose Abad Santos, where landslides continued to hamper road access.
He said government teams had to use helicopters and sea vessels to reach isolated areas, including Balut Island, while the Department of Public Works and Highways continued clearing blocked roads.
Alejandro said water supply was the most urgent need in affected communities, as agencies distributed shelter repair kits and temporary tents. Initial assessments showed 19,095 houses were damaged, including about 3,500 destroyed, while affected residents are expected to receive Php 30,000 in housing aid from the National Housing Authority and Php 50,000 in presidential assistance for repairs and rebuilding.
