The number of missing persons following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao has risen to 38, up from the previous 31, while the confirmed death toll remains at 47 as of Thursday evening, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Updated Figures from OCD
Civil Defense Deputy Administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV stated that the increase in missing persons came after new reports were received from Glan, Sarangani, and General Santos City. The Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government are continuously verifying the death toll to align it with other government reports.
Alejandro clarified that the OCD's records have undergone thorough double-checking to avoid double counting or reporting missing individuals as dead.
Challenges in Affected Areas
Meanwhile, reaching coastal areas such as Glan, Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, and Balut Island remains difficult due to landslides caused by the earthquake. The Department of Public Works and Highways is conducting clearing operations, while authorities are using helicopters and sea vessels to deliver aid to affected communities.
The OCD stated that they will first assess the situation in these areas before deciding whether to continue search and rescue operations or shift to retrieval operations in the coming days.
