Earth quake in Philippines
The number of people killed in the magnitude-6.7 earthquake that struck recently in a southern Philippines province climbed to eight on Monday, as aftershocks continued to terrify residents, officials stated.
“Two more people died in a hospital in Davao City,”vice Governor of Surigao Del Norte, Arturo Egay stated.
Report says over 200 people were injured in Friday’s quake.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded a magnitude-4.1 aftershock, about 28 km north-east of Surigao City.
The aftershock sent terrified residents fleeing to evacuation centres, fearing that their damaged houses would collapse or that a tsunami would hit the coastal city.
Since Friday, Phivolcs recorded over 130 aftershocks in Surigao, with the strongest, a magnitude-4.9 tremor, felt on Saturday.
“Search and rescue operations in quake-hit areas were halted because all residents were accounted for,” officials stated.
Operations have shifted to rehabilitation and damage assessment.
The Surigao City government said the quake damaged over 1,400 houses.
Power has been partially restored in the city, but the water supply remained a problem.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who visited Surigao City on Sunday, pledged 40 million dollars for relief and rehabilitation.
A military transport plane arrived on Sunday with generator sets, solar lamps, food packs, mosquito nets and blankets.