The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported Wednesday that the death toll from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao has climbed to 53.
"Ang bilang naman po sa aming naitala dito na ibinato po sa aming Emergency Operation Center ay meron nang 53 cadavers na na-retrieve. The recovered bodies have yet to be identified," BFP spokesperson Fire Superintendent Anthony Arroyo said during Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon in Malacañang.
On Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 45 fatalities, while the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said 37 people had been reported dead due to the strong earthquake.
The NDRRMC also reported that a total of 33,596 families, or 149,372 individuals, in 184 villages across the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were affected.
The earthquake damaged 2,994 houses, including 2,499 that sustained partial damage and 495 that were totally destroyed.
The BFP said it remains on full alert (Code Red) in the Davao Region and SOCCSKSARGEN, with all personnel on standby as authorities continue assessing damage and responding to the earthquake's aftermath.
Arroyo said a total of 3,441 BFP personnel in the two regions are currently under full alert status.
He added that four fire stations in SOCCSKSARGEN sustained damage from the earthquake.
