The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported on Monday morning that the recent magnitude-6.9 tremor in Northern Cebu already produced a total of 7,092 aftershocks—1,385 of which have been plotted and 31 were felt.
The magnitudes ranged between 1.0 to 5.1 per latest monitoring. Majority of the aftershocks were traced to Bogo City, the epicenter of the quake, which claimed the lives of 72 individuals.
As this developed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has established Joint Task Group “Handa” to provide humanitarian and disaster response operations in Northern Cebu and nearby provinces.
The Visayas Command organized the task group, headed by the 53rd Engineer Brigade of the Philippine Army, to coordinate and unify relief and recovery efforts among military units deployed in the affected areas.
As part of the joint operation, the Naval Forces Central (NFC) has deployed two Disaster Relief and Response Teams to augment the task group’s operations in the municipalities of Bogo, San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, and other nearby localities severely hit by the quake.
“This coordinated initiative exemplifies the AFP’s unified and compassionate approach to humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” the NFC said in a statement.
The task group integrates the capabilities of the Philippine Army, Navy, and Air Force to facilitate the efficient delivery of aid, clearing and retrieval operations, and the transport of essential supplies to isolated communities, it noted.
“Through teamwork, discipline, and swift action, NFC and its partner AFP units continue to bring hope and tangible relief to communities striving to recover from the devastation,” the NFC added.
