Quake death toll now 34

Friday, February 10, 2012

MANILA (Updated 9:15 a.m.) -- The number of fatalities in the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Negros and Cebu islands rose to 34 on Friday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in its 8 a.m. Friday report, recorded 34 fatalities all from Negros Oriental.

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The fatalities include 13 in Guilhungan, seven in Jimalalud, three in Tayasan, one in Bindoy, two in Manjuyod, two in Ayungon, and six in La Libertad.

The NDRRMC also recorded 54 people injured and 71 others missing.

The 6.9-magnitude tremor that occurred at 11:49 a.m. Monday at five kilometers northwest of Tayasan was set off by movement in an undersea fault.

Earlier, NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said the number of fatalities will likely increase further as rescuers struggle to reach remote areas.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded a total of 1,413 aftershocks as of 4 a.m. Friday since Monday's quake.

The NDRRMC said the total number of population affected in Central Visayas is 21,076 families or 93,397 persons.

It also said the total cost of damages incurred by both passable and impassable roads and bridges was pegged at P265,759,000. (Sunnex)