The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday said the number of victims by last week’s magnitude 7 earthquake in Abra has climbed to nearly 500,000 as more reports on injured individuals came in.
The NDRRMC said a total of 499,703 people were affected by the quake, or 133,651 families in 1,329 affected barangays in Regions 1, 2, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
On the other hand, the death toll remained at 11, but the number of injured persons increased to 567 from 410 on Friday.
The NDRRMC records showed 1,310 displaced persons or 368 families in 20 evacuation centers, while 50,418 persons or 14,398 families have remained dislocated.
At least 48 cities and municipalities had experienced power interruptions, but the electric supply had already been restored.
Four cities and municipalities also encountered water supply cut-off, although supply has been restored in three of the affected communities.
Meanwhile, a total of 33,861 damaged houses was reported in Regions 1 2, CAR, and the National Capital Region.
Due to the tremor, a total of 29 cities and municipalities were declared under the state of calamity, the NDRRMC said.
Eighty-one towns and cities suspended classes, while 157 cities or municipalities suspended work in Regions 1, 3 and CAR.
A total of P1.34 billion worth of damage in 1,477 infrastructures was also reported in Regions 1, 2, 3, CAR and the NCR.
Citing reports from the Department of Agriculture, the NDRRMC said a total of P33,227,895 worth of agricultural damages in infrastructure, machineries and equipment was reported in CAR.
The government had provided P116.5 million worth of assistance in Regions 1 and 2 and CAR.
At least 2,655 aftershocks have been recorded after the magnitude 7 earthquake as of August 5, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).