Cebu: There are no missing persons reported following Tuesday night’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu and adjacent provinces in the Visayas, as confirmed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo indicated that no reports of unaccounted individuals have been received from local government units (LGUs). Castillo stated, “We don’t know if they just haven’t submitted yet or kung wala na. Pero so far wala. Kaya parang zero missing pa tayo (or there are really no reports of missing persons. That is why as of now we have zero missing persons).” The current assumption is that everyone in the affected areas has been accounted for.
Citing discussions with top OCD officials, including their administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros, Castillo noted that search and rescue operations are now considered “over.” Private search and rescue teams have been authorized to shift to relief operations, debris clearing, or other disaster-related missions. Castillo also expressed hope that the number of casualties would not increase. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) previously reported 72 earthquake fatalities and 294 injuries, though these figures are still under verification.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) announced on Thursday that it continues to deploy troops for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts in the affected regions. PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala stated that the Army’s HADR units remain operational in collaboration with local disaster units in Bogo City, San Remigio, Daanbantayan, and Medellin in Cebu. As of Thursday, the PA has 587 troops available for various disaster response operations. Dema-ala added that PA responders have aided in the evacuation of 292 families in the municipalities of Carmen, Consolacion, and Sogod in Cebu province.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has also been active in relief efforts. On Wednesday, a C-130 transport aircraft from the PAF delivered essential relief supplies from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City. PAF spokesperson Ma. Christina Basco reported that the cargo included 812 evacuation kits, CSSR equipment, and 170 boxes of medical supplies. Additionally, the PAF has mobilized its search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) team and air assets to assist affected communities. Basco noted that PAF teams helped recover six cadavers in Binabag and Gairan villages in Bogo City, Cebu.