6.1-magnitude quake damage hits P505M

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Sunday some P505.9-million damage to infrastructure caused by last week’s 6.1-magnitude earthquake that shook parts of Luzon.

According to the NDRRMC, the total cost of damage to schools in the National Capital Region, the Ilocos region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon was estimated at P305.9 million.

The NDRRMC noted that 334 structures or buildings in the Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Calabarzon were damaged in the earthquake.

In Metro Manila, damage to schools was estimated at P16.5 million; Ilocos region, P14.680 million; Central Luzon, P222.6 million; and Calabarzon, P52.1 million.

18 dead, 5 missing

Damage to roads and bridges in Central Luzon was placed at P200 million.

The NDRRMC also reported that there were 1,549 houses in Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales damaged by the tremor.

Of that number, 162 were destroyed while the rest were only partially damaged.

As for casualties, the death toll was placed by the NDRRMC at 18 dead and five persons missing, all in Central Luzon, particularly in Pampanga province, while 243 people were injured.

Among those hurt, 242 were reported in Central Luzon and only one in Metro Manila.

Although the epicenter of the Luzon earthquake was in Castillejos town in Zambales, Lubao and Guagua towns in Pampanga bore the brunt of the tremor at intensity 7 which is destructive as people would find it difficult to keep steady on their feet, heavy objects overturn or topple and old or poorly-built structures suffer considerable damage while well-built structures are slightly damaged.