Zamboanga city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Zamboanga Peninsula (DSWD-9) sent off the first batch of the Quick Response Team (QRT) on Thursday to augment disaster response operations of DSWD-Soccsksargen in quake-hit General Santos City.

According to Philippines News Agency, the deployment of the 10-person QRT will provide additional manpower and support to serve families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on June 8. "The QRT members will assist with various response activities to help ensure the timely delivery of services and assistance to affected communities," the agency said.

Latest data provided by the Office of Civil Defense showed that the death toll of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani, has climbed to 47, along with 688 injured and 31 persons missing. Authorities said the hardest-hit areas are General Santos City and the province of Sarangani.

The DSWD-9 said that a second batch of QRT members may be sent soon to further augment operations or relieve the first batch. Meanwhile, the city government also dispatched a humanitarian mission to General Santos City on Thursday evening.

The humanitarian mission, led by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, brought relief goods, including rice, canned goods, and jerry cans. Cash assistance of PHP1 million is also being processed by the city government and will be delivered to General Santos next week.