MANILA – Eight persons were killed following a series of earthquakes that hit Itbayan, Batanes on Saturday.
Based on the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the victims were mostly pinned down by walls after a 5.4- magnitude earthquake struck the province around 4:16 a.m.
A second quake registered at 5.9-magnitude, struck the town three hours later, causing several “strong” aftershocks. No tsunami threat was raised from the quakes.
“The fatalities were inside their old limestone houses sleeping when the quake occurred,” said Batanes provincial DRRM officer Roldan Esdicul.
Apart from the reported deaths, 60 others sustained injuries and were brought to a nearby hospital for treatment while others were sent to Batan town for treatment.
Esdicul said many old houses made of limestone were destroyed while the belfry of a church had a major damage during the first earthquake, collapsing after a second one that occurred past 7 a.m.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said concerned government agencies were closely monitoring the after-effects of the twin quakes.
“The Office of the Civil Defense, are continuously coordinating with distressed local government units and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Batanes, as relief operations are going on and in full swing,” Panelo said.
“President Rodrigo Duterte has been briefed on the situation and he directed all agencies to respond and undertake measures to provide assistance to the victims of this and rehabilitate the damaged properties in the areas,” he added.
“With risk reduction measures in place, the government has prepared itself to react quickly to disaster occurrences like earthquakes while we commit our best to saving maximum lives and properties during such situations and bringing normalcy back in the soonest possible time,” said Panelo./PN
