Another fatality was reported by authorities related to the magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Sarangani, Davao Occidental as the toll already reached nine, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) bared Monday, Nov. 20.

In a situational report, the NDRRMC said that the latest fatality was recorded in Sarangani. 

"Another one was reported just this morning so there is an additonal one. But again, these are still for validation by our authorities and once confirmed we will share with you all the available details on these casualties," Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Edgar Posadas said in a television interview with CNN Philippines.

In total, five individuals have already been killed in Sarangani, three in General Santos City, and one in Davao Occidental due to the quake. The NDRRMC has yet to identify the fatalities.

The death toll is feared to further increase as local disaster officials in Soccsksargen (Region 12) were validating an additional fatality.

"Mayroon pa po tayong pina-follow up for confirmation po na additional na death but we are still validating and confirming it po kung related po ba sa lindol 'yung nangyari (We are confirming an additional death if it is related to the earthquake)," OCD-12 information officer Jorie Mae Balmediano said in a separate interview with Radyo 630.

The quake has affected 2,489 families composed of 12,885 individuals in 43 barangays in Regions 11 and 12.

The most affected areas are the municipalities of Glan, Malapitan, and Alabel in Sarangani province; General Santos City; and Polomolok and Tupi in South Cotabato, Balmediano said.

There were 826 damaged houses in Sarangani, South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental while damage to infrastructure increased to 118 and these were logged in Davao City, Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, South Cotabato and Sarangani.

Meanwhile, disaster officials reminded the public to remain vigilant as aftershocks were still being felt three days after the rumbling while rapid damage assessment and risk analysis teams were deployed to determine the needs of the affected residents.

"We are looking at the early recovery na po talaga kasi marami pong damaged houses. Ngayon nga po ay magsisimula na ang ating region na magdeploy ng rapid damage assessment and risk analysis teams. Composite po ito ng mga iba't ibang ahensya ng ating gobyerno para iassess po ano pa 'yung mga pangangailangan doon sa mga areas na heavily hit po talaga at mabigay na po 'yung mga assistance na kanilang kinakailangan (We are looking at the early recovery because there were many houses that got damaged. We are now deploying rapid damage assessment and risk analysis teams. These are composed of different government agencies that will assess and provide the needs of the people in heavily hit areas)," Balmediano said.