Gemma Unnagan, 42, of Barangay San Antonio here, recalled she got out of bed to answer the call of nature at around 2:30 a.m. and returned back to bed beside her husband and their one-year-old baby.
Moments later, the ground started to shake and Gemma realized that an earthquake had struck. She immediately got up and gathered her husband and six children and got out of the house before it collapsed.
The Unnagans were still in shock from their near-death experience during the interview and had nothing to eat and even asked this writer for food.
Kathlene Gerona, a cousin of the victims, also of Barangay San Antonio, posted photos of the damage to houses from the earthquake Friday and these were shared by netizens with a number where they could send assistance.
However, Gerona lamented that they were taken advantage of and no assistance reached them.
“Hindi naman po nakarating ang anumang tulong sa amin, ginamit lang nila ang photos at sarili nilang Gcash number and pagkatapos ay dinelete na nila (No help reached us. They used our photos and claimed them as their own to get help and deleted them afterwards),” Gerona said.
Assistance was composed of a sack of rice and groceries.
The Aparri Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is assessing the damage from the earthquake.
(Photos via Liezle Basa-Inigo)