At least seven persons have died in the powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake that hit Tulunan, North Cotabato last week, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed yesterday.
NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said the latest victim, whose identity has yet to be verified, suffered a heart attack in Makilala, North Cotabato during the October 16 quake.
“Yes, we confirm the seventh fatality. The cause of death is cardiac arrest,” Timbal said in Filipino.
In total, three of the victims suffered heart attack in the towns of Makilala, Alamada and M’lang; three died in a landslide triggered by the quake in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; and one was pinned to death by a collapsed wall.
Meanwhile, 215 others were hurt in the incident.
Timbal said the NDRRMC has yet to determine the total cost of damage by the quake as assessment is still on-going.
The cost of damage is expected to reach hundreds of millions to a billion.
“Once we get the report from our field officers, then we can assess how big the damage of the quake was in the infrastructure,” he said.
As of 12 a.m. Monday, a total of 701 aftershocks have already been recorded – 347 were plotted or with known origin while 40 were felt. (Martin Sadongdong)
