The number of fatalities from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on June 8 has increased to 61, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
“As of 6:00 this morning, nasa 61 ang reported na dead casualty. Ongoing pa ang validation (the validation is ongoing),” OCD Assistant Secretary and Deputy Administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said on Saturday.
“Bina-validate na lang ang mga pangalan nila [mga napaulat nasawi] but we have the numbers already at may mga katawan na ito (the bodies were found)… We already accounted for the bodies nitong 61,” he added.
The number of missing persons has dropped to 33 from 40, while reported injuries have climbed to 1,221.
“‘Yung ating missing, from 40, bumaba ng 33 kasi vina-validate at baka nahanap na at napunta sa dead casualty,” Alejandro said.
“In terms of injured, halos mayroon na tayong 1,221 na nai-report. Sinama na ng DOH (Department of Health) ‘yung mga nagpakonsulta, ‘yung mga nahilo…Sinama sa count na injured. Sa Region 12, mayroon halos 532 na na-report… Karamihan mga estudyante na nahilo, nagkaroon ng trauma at pumunta sa DOH para i-report,” he said.
According to Alejandro, most deaths were caused by earthquake-triggered landslides and falling debris. Victims killed by falling debris were largely reported in General Santos City, while landslide-related fatalities occurred in Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani Island in Davao Occidental.
Search and rescue operations remain underway, particularly in areas where road access remains difficult.
“Mayroon pa tayong mga reported na missing… Marami sa mga missing ay sa Sarangani at sa Jose Abad Santos, na medyo hirap puntahan dahil sa road networks na mayroong mga landslide,” he added.
Emergency response teams also faced communication challenges after generators powering telecommunications equipment ran out of fuel.
“Nagkaproblema sa komunikasyon dahil ‘yung mga emergency telecomms natin na nagre-rely lang din sa generator set, after 2-3 days, wala nang supply kaya nagpadala pa kami ng gasolina,” Alejandro said.
He identified Jose Abad Santos and Glan as among the hardest-hit and most isolated areas during the first 72 hours following the earthquake.
“Dalawa ang natutukan natin na lugar, itong Jose Abad Santos at Glan na medyo na-isolate in the first 72 hours in terms of road network. Kaya helicopter at barko ang ginagamit natin,” Alejandro said.
For the past three days, rescue efforts have focused on Sarangani Island, Balut Island, Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, and Glan in Sarangani Province.
“Tatlong lugar ang natutukan natin for the last 3 days, itong Sarangani Island, kasama ang Balut Island, Jose Abad Santos at itong Glan na nasa southernmost part ng area na tinamaan ng landslide,” the OCD official said.
Relief operations are ongoing, with authorities prioritizing the delivery of water, food, tents, and housing materials to the hardest-hit communities in Glan, Jose Abad Santos, and General Santos City.
The supplies are being transported from Manila through Philippine Air Force C-130 and C-295 aircraft, as well as Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard assets. Helicopters, ships, military units, and trucks are then used to bring the aid to affected areas.
“We are bringing in goods from DSWD… Nagpadala na rin kami ng water filtration units. ‘Yung housing materials ay gine-generate para mabigyan ang affected LGUs. We are bringing in tents pati na rin tarpaulins na kailangan din for temporary shelter,” Alejandro said.
Meanwhile, the airport in General Santos City remains closed to commercial flights but continues to accommodate humanitarian missions and relief deliveries.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck offshore Maasim, Sarangani, at 7:37 a.m. on June 8. General Santos City experienced Intensity VII shaking.
As of Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology had recorded nearly 4,000 aftershocks following the quake.
