(UPDATED) From an earlier report of seven fatalities, the death toll from the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani, Davao Occidental last Nov. 17 has risen to eight although it will still be validated by local disaster officials on the ground, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
As of 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, the NDRRMC said in its latest situational report that the reported deaths were recorded in Davao Region (Region 11) where the epicenter of the powerful quake was monitored, and in Soccsksargen (Region 12).
There were also 13 injured individuals in Regions 11 and 12 while the two missing persons earlier recorded in Glan, Sarangani have already been accounted for.
The quake has affected 180 families composed of 1,509 individuals, many of them were still staying in evacuation centers as their homes were partially or totally destroyed.
A total of 54 houses were damaged by the quake in Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.
Meanwhile, power supply in all 21 areas affected by power interruption during the quake has also been restored, the NDRRMC said.
As assessment by technical experts continued, the number of damaged infrastructure projects also rose from 32 to 71 in the two affected regions. These include roads, bridges, schools, and other infrastructure.
"The Office of Civil Defense continues to coordinate with various agencies for response actions," OCD spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said.
'Beware of fake news'
Meanwhile, the OCD warned the public against spreading malicious and false information about the supposed occurrence of magnitude 7.2 earthquakes in Cagayan de Oro City and Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental, and magnitude 6.4 quake in Tulunan that could result to a tsunami as high as a 15-storey building.
The rumors were circulated on social media following the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that rocked Davao Occidental.
"Nais pong ipabatid ng Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC IX) at Office of Civil Defense (OCD) IX na hindi nanggaling sa NDRRMC at kay OCD IX Regional Director Ramon Ochotorena ang impormasyong ito (The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council [RDRRMC IX] and Office of Civil Defense [OCD] IX would like to inform the public that such information did not come from the NDRRMC nor OCD IX Regional Director Ramon Ochotorena)," the OCD Region IX said.
According to OCD IX, no technology could predict the occurrence of an earthquake so it's best to be prepared always.
"Mariin naming hinihikayat ang ating mga kababayan na nakakatanggap ng mga ganitong mensahe na huwag agad maniwala at kumuha lamang ng mga impormasyon sa mga opisyal na ahensya ng pamahalaan upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng fake news na maaaring magdulot ng takot at kalituhan sa lahat (We strongly urge the public who receive such kind of messages to be vigilant and get factual information from official government agencies to avoid the spread of fake news which could cause fear and panic among the people)," it noted.