The number of houses damaged by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Maasim, Sarangani and nearby areas on June 8 has risen to 87,058, according to the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
In its situational update released Thursday, the NDRRMC said 71,629 houses were partially damaged, while 15,429 were totally destroyed across affected communities in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The latest figure is higher than the 74,667 damaged houses reported on June 18, as assessment and validation efforts continue in quake-hit areas.
The earthquake affected an estimated 382,269 families or 1.63 million individuals from 620 barangays in Regions 9, 11, 12, and BARMM.
The NDRRMC said 77 deaths are still under verification, while 1,339 people were reported injured and 31 remain missing.
Damage to infrastructure was estimated at P1.36 billion, affecting 912 public and private structures in the four regions.
The agency noted that all figures remain subject to validation and may change as assessments continue.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced that it will lead the observance of National Disaster Resilience Month throughout July in partnership with the NDRRMC and its member agencies.
The month-long campaign, carrying the theme “Naghahanda at Kumikilos Tungo sa Panatag na Bagong Pilipinas,” will formally open on July 1 at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
According to the OCD, the observance aims to strengthen public awareness and encourage collective action on disaster preparedness, prevention, and resilience-building while highlighting ongoing efforts to create safer and more disaster-ready communities across the country.
Photo courtesy of BusinessWorld Online
Comments