MANILA, Philippines — It was a flurry of cheers and a hushed "salamat po!" that greeted a man who had been trapped in a collapsed supermarket for more than half day since a magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit Luzon.
A video posted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on its Facebook account showed its Public Safety Division helping the unidentified man trapped in the rubble to get out.
Hours after the quake struck — of which the epicenter was located at Castillejos, Zambales — Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda told the media that a supermarket had collapsed, and rescue operations were immediately ordered as at least 24 people were feared to be trapped inside the collapsed building.
The video opened with rescuers working to expand the hole where the trapped man would be extricated.
The survivor told the rescuers that he could already get out of the hole they had dug.
The rescuers had first verified with the survivor if he could still walk.
At the background of the video, shouts of “Tao! Tao! [There’s a person!]” could be heard.
After being instructed how he could safely get out of the rubble, the man was helped by the rescuers to his feet.
Once safely out of the hole, the authorities repeatedly asked the survivor: “Kaya? Kaya?”
(Can you do it? Can you do it?)
A rescuer then said: “Oh, sir, congrats!”
The survivor, presumably a worker of the supermarket, expressed his thanks to the rescuers.
Death toll rises to 16
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday afternoon that 16 people were killed due to the earthquake.
The quake also left dozens injured while 14 remain missing.
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