The death toll from the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8 has climbed to 55, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) confirmed on Friday.
OCD Deputy Spokesperson Diego Mariano stated that the powerful seismic event also left 1,120 individuals injured. Meanwhile, emergency teams are racing against time as 31 people remain missing amid ongoing search and rescue operations.
According to the latest situational report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the disaster has affected a total of 346,449 individuals, or roughly 75,324 families.
The impact spans multiple areas, including the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Displacement numbers remain critical across the affected regions. Currently, 16,349 residents are staying inside temporary evacuation centers, while another 29,260 displaced individuals have sought shelter with relatives or alternative accommodations.
To expedite relief efforts and utilize emergency funds, a state of calamity has been officially declared in the following areas:
- The entire province of Davao Occidental
- Malapatan, Sarangani
- Glan, Sarangani
- General Santos City, South Cotabato