NDRRMC checks for damage after magnitude 6.9 Davao del Sur earthquake

A magnitude 6.9 rocks parts of the Davao and Soccsksargen regions on Sunday afternoon. The US Geographical Survey initially placed the epicenter of the quake near Polomolok, South Cotabato but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology puts the epicenter near Padada, Davao del Sur.

Parts of Mindanao were rocked by powerful earthquakes in October and November.

As of Wednesday morning, NDRRMC says a total of nine people were reported dead while the number of injured rose to 111 from 99 after the powerful quake that hit Davao del Sur.

The disaster response agency adds that one person remains missing.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, citing initial reports by local authorities, estimates around 50,000 people in Matanao and Digos, Davao del Sur have been displaced by the earthquake on Sunday.

"Sufficient number of evacuation centers is yet to be put in place and many people are staying out in the open, in front of their houses. The number of displaced is expected to increase once remote areas are reached and the cumulative impact of all four earthquakes better understood," it also says.

"According to the authorities, the latest tremor will possibly increase the number of mandatory evacuations, including among indigenous population. A 12-km road to barangay Holonsabak in Matanao, inhabited exclusively by IPs, was already declared non-passable as of [Sunday] and the authorities are exploring re-routing options," it also says.

Rescuers in the southern Philippines used heavy equipment and their bare hands on Monday in hopes of finding several people feared trapped beneath a building toppled by a powerful earthquake that claimed at least three lives.

Sunday's tremor cracked schools, toppled homes and injured dozens but largely spared big cities on the island of Mindanao, which is still recovering from a string of deadly quakes in October.

Searchers have pulled survivors from the collapsed market building in the town of Padada, but were still looking for a person who had texted authorities saying six people were trapped under the rubble.

"The person can no longer be reached," fire official Fred Trajeras told reporters, adding that rescuers' held out hope survivors could be found.

A young child was killed when a family home collapsed near the epicentre, and searchers pulled the bodies of two victims from the collapsed market building.

However applause erupted after Lesley Jane Gatos, 31, was pulled from the rubble on Sunday, shortly after the tremor.

Gatos used her phone to call for help and then began making noise to attract the attention of rescuers, who reached her after clearing a path in the debris.

"Finally I was able to get out. I saw people. They clapped because I was the first one rescued," she told AFP. — Agence France-Presse

Police Regional Office-12 has deployed personnel to help in rescue and relief operations in areas of Soccsksargen affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Sunday, police say.

Disaster Incident Management Task Groups have been reactivated and are working with local disaster risk reduction and management offices to extend medical assistance, PRO-12 says.

Medical teams have also been deployed "at the vicinity of SM and KCC Mall of General Santos" while mobile patrol and traffic management units have been sent to "KCC, Robinsons, Fitmart Mall GenSan to prevent looting, carry out crowd control and traffic management."

PRO-12 personnel are also ready to conduct search and rescue operations, with 110 personnel already deployed for search, rescue and recovery operations.

Davao del Sur PDRRMO's Christopher Tan clarifies to CNN Philippines that two are confirmed dead while four others are still trapped inside the Southern Trade Grocery Store in Padada town. This means the current death toll is at three and not seven as initially reported.