Mindanao earthquake: Sarangani families sleep on roadsides as aftershocks continue
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Families in Sarangani province remained outdoors overnight after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Mindanao early Monday morning, as residents took shelter in open areas due to damaged houses and ongoing aftershocks.
In Nagpan, Malungon, 36-year-old Emily Sotto said her family moved out of their hilltop home after the quake triggered a landslide and left visible cracks on the slope where their house once stood.
“We slept by the roadside because the children were afraid up there,” she said in Filipino.
READ:Mindanao quake: Death toll increases to 45, says NDRRMC
She said the quake dislodged their door, toppled a refrigerator, scattered household items, and cracked concrete walls inside their home.
Fearing further ground movement, Sotto and her family carried a mattress, pillows, blankets, and a crib for her in-laws’ baby down to the concrete road at the base of the hill, where they stayed overnight.
READ: Cebu LGUs prepare aid for victims of Mindanao earthquake
In other parts of the province, similar scenes were reported as structural damage forced residents outdoors.
In Barangay Tuyan, Malapatan, residents spent the night on terraces, pavements, and open yards.
“We slept outside and on terraces so we can quickly run if needed,” resident Cadariya Michael, 23, said in Bisaya.
She said many houses in their area sustained heavy damage and were no longer safe for occupancy.
“Our houses here are severely damaged; it is not safe to sleep inside,” Michael said.
In a video posted by the Sarangani Provincial Information Office (SPIO) on Tuesday, Gov. Rogelio “Ruel” D. Pacquiao said damage assessment is ongoing, particularly on roads and bridges that remain impassable in several areas.“Some main roads remain impassable as of this time. We are assessing what immediate assistance the provincial government can provide,” he said.
He added that authorities are evaluating the extent of damage across the province, including to national and provincial road networks and to collapsed bridges, while identifying the immediate support needed for affected communities.
According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday, at least 38 people have been killed, four remain missing, and 478 have been injured following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 1,209 aftershocks have been recorded, ranging from magnitude 1.3 to 6.4, with many families still unable to return to their homes as aftershocks continue.
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