The number of victims of the Philippine earthquake has increased to 45 people, hundreds of others were injured.

JAKARTA - The Philippine Civil Defense (OCD) has verified reports of 45 deaths due to a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook Maasim, Sarangani, and several other provinces on Monday (8/6).

The Deputy for Administration of the OCD Administration, Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, during an interview with DZMM explained that the death toll was from the Davao and Soccsksargen regions.

According to him, as many as 18 deaths were reported in Sarangani, 15 victims in South Cotabato, 11 victims in Davao Occidental, and one victim in Davao del Sur.

Authorities are also validating reports of 17 missing people; 13 in Davao Occidental, and four in General Santos City.

The agency also noted that as many as 630 people were reported to have been injured. The number, explained Alejandro, is still being validated and can change.

As reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, June 10, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that as many as 33,596 families or 149,372 people spread across the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao were affected by the disaster.

A total of 8,813 families or 32,464 people received assistance at 57 evacuation centers, while 1,804 families or 8,973 others received assistance outside the evacuation center. There are also other affected residents who have fled to relatives' homes.

The NDRRMC explained that 2,499 houses were partially damaged, and 495 houses were totally damaged. The losses were recorded in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen.

Military helps search and rescue

The Philippine Army deployed an urban search and rescue (USAR) team consisting of 18 personnel to General Santos City, as the search and rescue efforts by a number of government agencies in the earthquake-affected areas increased.

Philippine Army spokesman, Colonel Louie Dema-ala, said the 10th Infantry Division deployed 200 personnel in General Santos City as the area with the most severe infrastructure damage.

A number of humanitarian and disaster management (HADR) assistance teams came from one platoon from the 10th Emergency Response Company, three platoons from the Gensan Task Force, one platoon from the 1002nd Infantry Brigade, and one company from the 28th Infantry Battalion.

Meanwhile, the 6th Infantry Division deployed 53 personnel from 12 HADR teams from the 105th Infantry Battalion and the 37th Infantry Battalion to General Santos City; Maitum, Kiamba, and Maasim in Sarangani; and Lebak in Sultan Kudarat.

A number of supporting vehicles were also deployed, including eight KM-250 trucks, five KM-450 trucks, two patrol vehicles, and three motorcycles.

In addition, a total of 530 personnel from 53 HADR teams of the 10th Infantry Division and 77 personnel from nine HADR teams of the 6th Infantry Division were alerted along with 56 military trucks and one patrol car.

"The Philippine Army is working closely with national and local government agencies to ensure a quick and coordinated response to damaging earthquakes in the region," Dema-ala said.