Sarangani: The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday that 86,135 families have been affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao on June 8. In its latest situational report, the disaster response body said the total is equivalent to 392,806 persons from 352 villages in Regions 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 11 (Davao), 12 (Soccsksargen), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
According to Philippines News Agency, 2,409 families or 10,783 individuals are still being served inside 31 evacuation centers, while 7,480 families or 30,265 persons are being aided outside, with the remainder sheltering with families and friends. Houses damaged were placed at 19,095, classified as 15,610 "partially damaged" and 3,845 "totally damaged."
In a separate message, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy spokesperson Diego Agustin Mariano confirmed that casualties from the earthquake have now totaled 55 deaths, 1,120 injured, and 31 missing as of Friday.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) on Friday said its humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) teams cleared blocked roads on Thursday to restore access to isolated communities and delivered aid for quake-affected families in General Santos City, Sarangani, and Davao Occidental. PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala stated that rescue units in General Santos City supported ongoing response operations through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office while its emergency response company conducted HADR activities in the villages of Labangal, Calumpang, Apopong, and Fatima.
A sustainment team deployed a mobile water purification system at General Santos Medical Center to provide potable water to patients, watchers, and hospital personnel. The team also redeployed the system to Purok Filomena, Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City, where it continues to provide potable water to affected residents.
Additional HADR teams from the 603rd Infantry Brigade are assisting local authorities in Kiamba, Maitum, Maasim, Lake Sebu, T'boli, Lebak, Kalamansig, and Palimbang in conducting damage assessments, validating reports, and coordinating response activities. Two urban search and rescue teams from the 525th Combat Engineer Battalion are conducting search, rescue, and retrieval efforts in Davao Occidental.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) also continues to conduct HADR operations in coordination with partner government agencies and civilian volunteers to ensure timely delivery of relief to affected communities. PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco reported that a total of 1,000 "ChariTimba" relief packs were airlifted to General Santos City on Thursday. A C-295 aircraft transported the first batch of 270 packs, while a C-130 aircraft carried the remaining 730 packs.
In another mission, an S-70i Black Hawk helicopter of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing airlifted 480 Department of Social Welfare and Development family food packs and 450 packs of bottled water for delivery to affected communities in Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Sorsogon. Another Black Hawk conducted a medical evacuation mission, transporting residents from Sarangani Province to Cotabato for urgent medical care.
"These operations underscore the PAF's continued commitment to rapid response, lifesaving airlift capability, and coordinated disaster relief efforts in support of national humanitarian operations," Basco said.
