More than 3,600 families affected by Luzon earthquake

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Sunday said that the number of families affected as a result of the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck Castillejos, Zambales, on April 22, has already reached more than 3,600.

NDRRMC Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, said that, based on their latest SITREP (situational report) issued at 6 a.m. Sunday, April 28, a total of 3,632 families or 17,410 persons from 41 barangays in Region 3 or Central Luzon, were affected by the strong quake.

Jalad said of the total number of families affected, 986 families or 3,771 persons were being served inside six evacuation centers, while 951 families or 4,756 persons were being accommodated outside evacuation centers.

Jalad added that, as per reports they have received, the total number of damaged houses in Bataan and Pampanga due to the earthquake has also increased to 1,549 houses (162 totally and 1,387 partially).

Damaged structures/buildings in Regions 1, 3, National Capital Region and CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) have already reached 334.

An estimated R505,920,000 worth of damage to schools, as well as to roads and bridges, have so far been recorded in Regions 1, 3, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and National Capital Region.

Jalad said a total of R1,615,387.23 worth of assistance coming from the Office of Civil Defence (OCD), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units (LGUs) have been provided for Pampanga and Zambales for the conduct of the ongoing response operations.

As of 3 a.m. Sunday, a total of 868 aftershocks were recorded of which 109 were plotted and 10 were felt, ranging from 1.4 to 4.5 magnitude and intensity.

With regards the number of deaths due to the quake, Jalad said the figure remains at 18 with 243 injured. He said of the 243 reported injured, 174 were already validated by the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, the number of missing persons has gone down from seven to three after four more persons earlier reported missing had been accounted for and said to be already in their homes.

NDRRMC Spokesman Director Edgar Posadas. said that Search and Rescue (SAR) operations at the collapse Chuzon supermarket in Porac, Pampanga has concluded after the 92 employeess of the establishment (both dead and alive) have all been accounted for as per OCD 3 Regional Director Marlou Salazar.