The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) released the first official wave of information about the extent of damage of the powerful magnitude-7 earthquake that struck Abra and nearby provinces in Luzon on Wednesday morning, July 27.
After an initial damage assessment on the affected regions, OCD Deputy Administrator for Operations Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said five deaths were reported in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Cagayan Valley (Region 2) as of 6 p.m.
One of the fatalities was a construction worker who was pinned to death after a collapsed structure in La Trinidad, Benguet. Meanwhile, another fatality due to fallen rocks was noted in Balbalan, Kalinga.
One fatality each was also recorded in Tuba, Benguet; Bangued, Abra; and Gattaran, Cagayan.
Alejandro added that at least 64 individuals were injured due to the quake: 57 of them were recorded in CAR while seven were in Region 1.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) was validating the reported casualties.
Damages
The temblor also destroyed various infrastructure in Region 1.
Historical sites such as the Vigan Cathedral and Bantay Bell Tower, and municipal buildings, Gabriela Silang District General Hospital in Ilocos Sur sustained significant damages, according to Alejandro
“We have no details yet as to the estimated worth of infrastructure damages. We have to check with the National Historical Society because the computation for the damaged historical sites is different from ordinary structures. Medyo mahal po ang historical sites (It’s a bit pricey for the historical sites),” Alejandro explained.
At least 428 houses were also damaged by the quake: 423 of these were located in CAR while others were in Region 1.
The Department of Education also reported that 61 schools were damaged in CAR and Ilocos (Region 1). Twenty-two roads were also closed to traffic due to soil erosion and rock collapse.
In CAR, 20 areas also experienced power interruption while in Region 1, Ilocos Sur reported a province-wide power outage. Electricity was restored as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.
“As to the agricultural damages, we are still awaiting report from the Department of Agriculture,” Alejandro said.