STRONG QUAKE. A school fence in Laoag City collapsed after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolted Abra Tuesday night (Oct. 25, 2022). An intensity V was felt in the area in Laoag while some parts of Ilocos Norte still have no power supply. (PNA photo by Leilanie Adriano)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Wednesday assured the public that concerned government agencies are closely monitoring Abra and nearby provinces hit by a strong quake.
"We’re all monitoring," Marcos said in a chance interview at the Manila Hotel after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolted Lagayan town in Abra province on Tuesday evening.
Marcos said the government is focused on assisting affected individuals by providing them with food and temporary shelter.
"We do not have the critical problem when it comes to food and shelter. That is the most important part of the relief that we have provided now for the people affected by the earthquake," he said.
The strong quake struck Abra and was felt in nearby areas, including Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
The quake has so far generated 409 aftershocks as of 10 a.m. Wednesday. At least 81 of the recorded aftershocks were plotted or located, and five were felt.
Marcos, in a Twitter post, said the departments of Public Works, Social Welfare, Energy, and Local Government are now assessing the situation in quake-hit areas and are ready to help the affected individuals.
"As aftershocks continue, we remain in coordination with DPWH for the inspection of roads and buildings, DSWD for relief, DOE for outages and DILG for monitoring," Marcos said.
Marcos also called on the public to stay safe and vigilant.
"Everyone is advised to keep out of tall structures," he said.
Marcos said he is also monitoring the developments in Abra and other areas hit by the quake.
At least five persons were hurt after the strong earthquake rocked Abra and nearby provinces in Luzon, according to the initial report released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Wednesday morning.
Damage to infrastructures and houses, as well as power interruptions, were also reported.
Quake casualties under validation
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it is currently validating reports of five people hurt in Abra following Tuesday night’s tremor.
In an online press briefing Wednesday, NDRRMC spokesperson and Office of Civil Defense administrator for operations Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said they have monitored several effects of the earthquake.
"We have, for now, five casualties from Abra, there are damaged houses but mababa pa ang number dahil ongoing ang (numbers are still low as it is still ongoing the) ground assessment," he added.
Alejandro said they have also received reports of six damaged infrastructures in the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera.
He also added that there are class suspensions in 30 local government units (LGUs) and work suspensions in 28 LGUs.
Alejandro said that they are still to receive reports of any fatalities as of this time.
"(Department of Social Welfare and Development) Secretary (Erwin) Tulfo (is) in Ilocos Norte to assess the situation. We will be sending tents kasi karamihan ng victims natatakot pang bumalik sa bahay kasi for one, ongoing pa ang assessment and meron pang (a lot of victims are still scared to return home, the assessments are still ongoing and there are still) aftershocks," he added.
The NDRRMC spokesperson also said there are 436 aftershocks recorded as of this posting.
Meanwhile, Alejandro said they have already conducted a pre-disaster assessment on Tropical Depression Paeng, which is now inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
He added that Paeng will take the same track taken by the previous tropical cyclones -- Maymay, Neneng and Obet -- and that communities in its path have already been alerted.
Alejandro said they are now on heightened alert as Paeng’s effects are expected to be felt starting Friday. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
