(DILG Philippines photo)
MANILA – The number of families affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Abra and nearby Northern Luzon areas on July 27 has climbed to 82,336 which is equivalent to 314,161 persons, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Sunday.
The NDRRMC said the number is higher than the 62,024 families recorded on Saturday.
The affected families are residents of 996 barangays in Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Being aided and sheltered in the now 42 activated evacuation centers are 1,113 families or 3,891 persons with the remainder sheltering with relatives and friends.
The NDRRMC also confirmed that nine persons were killed by the earthquake in the CAR while 357 others were injured -- 355 in the CAR and two in Region 2.
The agency also said that it is still validating reports of one death and 18 injured residents in Region 1.
Houses damaged were placed 21,890 and these were reported in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, CAR and National Capital Region (NCR).
Classified as "partially damaged" were 21,588 houses and while 302 were described as "totally damaged".
Damage to infrastructure has reached PHP414.2 million and these were recorded in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CAR and the NCR.
Meanwhile, the National Irrigation Authority reported PHP4.5 million worth of damage to irrigation systems in the CAR while PHP13.96 million worth of agriculture equipment and machinery were also damaged by the earthquake. (PNA)
