A TOTAL of 23 people have died from the earthquakes that have struck Cotabato and adjacent areas in Mindanao since October 16.

In its latest situational report on Friday, November 1, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 10 people were killed on October 29 and six others perished on October 31.

Seven were killed when the first quake struck on October 16.

The first and second tremors, with magnitude of 6.3 and 6.6, occurred southeast of Tulunan, Cotabato. The third, a magnitude 6.5 quake, struck northeast of Tulunan.

All three quakes were inland and tectonic. Since October 16, a series of earthquakes and aftershocks have also been plotted in the area.

In its latest situational report, the NDRRMC said three of the fatalities from the October 29 and 31 quakes were from Davao del Sur, one from South Cotabato and 12 from Cotabato.

They were either struck dead by falling debris or buried in landslide caused by the earthquakes.

The NDRRMC said at least 403 people, including 14 from Northern Mindanao, 16 from Davao, 373 from Soccsksargen and one from BARMM were hurt.

Two persons, who were believed to have been buried by a landslide, remained missing as of Friday.

The NDRRMC said a total of 3,220 structures including 2,617 houses, 513 schools, 20 health facilities, 30 other public structures, six places of worship, 26 private and commercial establishments, and eight roads and bridges were damaged by the quakes.

Of the total, 1,366 were totally destroyed while 1,845 obtained partial damage.

The agency said a total of 6,009 families or 30,045 persons were affected in 72 barangays in Davao and Soccsksargen.

Some 2,552 families or 12,760 persons were being attended to inside evacuation centers. (SunStar Philippines)