At least 15 dead, 129 injured in powerful Philippines earthquake
Manila [Philippines], June 8 (HBTV): At least 15 people have died and 129 others were injured following a powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake that struck the Philippines, according to officials from the Philippine Office of Civil Defence, as reported by WAM.
Local Civil Defence Office Director Rodrigo Sosmena said that 12 of the fatalities were reported in Soccsksargen, a region comprising South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City. He added that at least 129 people were injured in the region.
According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian ordered immediate coordination with local government units and said that more than 1.1 million family food pack (FFP) boxes in Mindanao were available for distribution to affected families and individuals.
The DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) reported that as of June 2, about 4.7 million FFPs had been prepositioned nationwide and were available for immediate deployment during disasters and emergencies.
Gatchalian said the DSWD's Quick Response Teams (QRTs) remained on standby and were continuously coordinating with local government units for possible resource augmentation.
'DSWD is more than ready to provide immediate response by supporting the needs of the affected families in the entire Mindanao. In fact, we have directed all Field Offices to coordinate closely with the LGUs and deploy social workers in designated evacuation centres to work with the local social workers,' he said.
He also directed the concerned field offices to deploy mobile command centres, mobile kitchens and other necessary equipment and resources.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police provided updates during a press conference and highlighted its continued readiness and coordination with relevant agencies in responding to the emergency.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Monday said emergency agencies, including the Office of Civil Defence and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, had been activated.
Authorities advised residents in nine provinces, including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, to immediately move to higher ground or further inland due to tsunami threats.
Evacuation orders were also issued in parts of Indonesia, including northern Sulawesi, northern Gorontalo province and the Sangihe Islands, with residents urged to seek higher ground.
Officials in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia issued alerts warning of hazardous waves and advised people living in coastal areas to move to safer locations.
The US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center earlier warned that tsunami waves of up to 3 metres could impact coastal areas of the Philippines, while waves of up to 1 metre were possible in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.
(ANI)