In its 6 a.m. report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 61 people had died, 54 of them in Soccsksargen, following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani last week. BusinessWorld reported that more than 724,000 individuals have been affected by the disaster.
According to the NDRRMC, the majority of the fatalities occurred in the Soccsksargen region, with the remaining deaths reported in other affected areas. The earthquake has also caused widespread damage to infrastructure and homes, displacing thousands of families.
Search and rescue operations continue as authorities work to provide aid and assess the full extent of the damage. The NDRRMC has urged the public to remain vigilant for aftershocks and to follow evacuation orders.