By Aaron Recuenco and Jonas Reyes
SAN MARCELINO, ZAMBALES – A six-year-old boy was killed after falling rocks hit his head in Sitio Bayarong Tikes in Barangay Buhawen of this town Monday.
According to San Marcelino Municipal Police Station (MPS) chief PCPT Teddy Padauan, Waren Serano was playing outside their home in Sition Tikes, Barangay Buhawen when the earthquake occurred. A rolling rock hit the boy’s head, causing instantaneous death due to massive head injury.
Serano was the only recorded casualty in Zambales after the area was hit by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake Monday afternoon.
Around 70 aftershocks were recorded by the Phivolcs in the province of Zambales as the PDRRMO advised residents to become alert.
Gracie Macabare, head of the Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), said that based on initial reports, Serano’s death was not related to the landslide that occurred in the area.
Currently, all roads are deemed passable and no power outage was reported in the area.
At the height of the 6.1 magnitude quake on Monday, a landslide occurred at Mt. Bimmukel in Sitio Lomibao in Barangay Buhawen, according to Macabare.
"At least 120 families were evacuated in the affected areas as a result of the landslide," said Macabare.
A minor landslide was also reported in Barangay Aglao also in San Marcelino town while a minor damage was seen on a creek canal in Barangay Burgos of the same town.
"All municipal DRRMOs were instructed to conduct assessment in their areas," said Macabare.
She said Gov. Amor Deloso has already suspended classes in both public and private schools as well as government work.
"This is to give way to the inspection of all structures following the earthquake that hit the province," said Macabare.
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