CASUALTIES from the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Davao continued to mount, with the latest count at 11 dead, 1 missing and 195 injured.
In its update as of 6 a.m. Thursday, December 19, 2019, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the casualties were reported in Davao and Soccsksargen regions.
A total of 29,592 families or 121,221 persons from 105 barangays in Davao region were affected.
Of the total, 3,076 families or 14,993 persons sought shelter in evacuation centers while 4,379 families or 18,051 persons were served outside evacuation centers.
The NDRRMC also said a total of 826 aftershocks have been recorded. Of these, 86 were felt.
The quake, which struck at 2:11 p.m. of December 15, 2019, was centered at nine kilometers north of Matanao, Davao del Sur. It occurred at a depth of only three kilometers.
Shallow quakes are more destructive. This tremor caused the collapse of a three-story commercial building in Padada town and major damage to the Matanao National High School.
The NDRRMC report said a total of 290 schools in Davao and Soccsksargen regions sustained damage.
Some 31 other structures were also damaged, including 10 that were destroyed. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)