Sarangani earthquake death toll rises to 61

MORE THAN 724,000 people have been affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani last week, with the death toll rising to 61, the disaster agency said on Sunday.

In a 6 a.m. report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 61 people had died — 54 in Soccsksargen and seven in the Davao Region.

The agency said 40 people remained missing, while 1,403 were injured. Of the injured, 1,356 were from Soccsksargen, 46 from the Davao Region and one from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The earthquake affected more than 724,000 people from 173,000 families, according to the NDRRMC. About 10,000 people were staying in 34 evacuation centers.

Infrastructure damage was estimated at P1 billion, with 725 facilities damaged, the agency said.

Housing damage was also extensive, with about 54,000 homes affected. Of these, about 9,900 were destroyed, while 44,100 sustained partial damage.

Authorities have declared a state of calamity in 13 cities and municipalities following the earthquake.

Government assistance provided to affected families has reached P67.6 million, based on the agency’s latest report.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported a series of minor tremors on Sunday afternoon.

The agency recorded five earthquakes between 1:49 p.m. and 2:02 p.m., with magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 2.0.

PHIVOLCS said the tremors were centered near Kiamba, Glan, and Maasim in Sarangani, as well as Balut Island in Davao Occidental, as aftershocks continued to be monitored in areas affected by the June 8 earthquake. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking