Over 500,000 people affected by M7.8 Mindanao earthquake
ILOILO CITY — Over half a million people were affected by the M7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani, in Mindanao, on June 8, while government humanitarian assistance has exceeded P84 million, according to the recent Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
As detailed in the DSWD-DROMIC Report No. 9 issued at 18:00 on Friday, the powerful earthquake has affected a total of 401 barangays. The affected population comprises 137,081 families (553,068 individuals) residing within Regions IX, XI, XII, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The quake struck at 7:37 a.m. last Monday, with its epicenter located about 32 kilometers south-southwest of Maasim, Sarangani, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
At least 2,131 families or 9,393 individuals were staying in 26 operational evacuation centers, while 13,480 families or 54,274 persons were taking temporary shelter with relatives and friends outside evacuation facilities.
Damage to housing also continued to mount, with 8,865 homes reported totally destroyed and another 36,691 partially damaged across affected communities.
READ: Isolated families in Glan survive on boiled bananas after M7.8 Mindanao earthquake
The DSWD said humanitarian assistance provided by the national government, local government units, and partner agencies had reached P84.26 million.
Available relief resources stood at more than P5.16 billion, including P748.11 million under the Quick Response Fund and over P4.41 billion worth of food and non-food items prepositioned for disaster response.
The latest figures reflect a significant increase from the initial days following the disaster, as assessment teams continue to validate damage and identify affected families across Mindanao.
The earthquake, among the strongest to hit the country in recent years, triggered widespread destruction across southern Mindanao.
International and local reports placed the death toll at more than 30, with hundreds injured as rescue and recovery operations continued in the hardest-hit areas.
Government agencies remain engaged in relief distribution, damage assessment, and the provision of psychosocial and social protection services to displaced families as aftershocks continue to be jolt several areas. / gsg
HELP MINDANAO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
The Inquirer Foundation is calling for support for communities devastated by the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao.
In partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, the foundation is amplifying appeals for food, clean water and other critical assistance for affected families.
Donors may send contributions directly to the Philippine Red Cross through its official transfer channels, the complete list is available on the PRC’s Facebook page.
The Philippine Red Cross has activated its emergency fund campaign and deployed teams on the ground to provide medical services, distribute relief goods and extend psychosocial support to affected families.
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