Philippines - Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 3

Ref. OCHA/GVA - 2002/0065
OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Philippines - Earthquake
15 March 2002

This report is based on information provided by the Philippines National Disaster Co-ordination Council, obtained through the UNDP Office in the Philippines.

Event and Impact

1. The 7.5 Richter scale earthquake which occurred on 6 March, 2002 in Mindanao affected the four provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao del Sur. It was followed, according to the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, by 359 aftershocks, of which 14 were felt. The tremor caused a breach in the wall of the Mt Parker volcano's crater and a portion of it fell into Lake Maughan, atop the volcano. Tons of water were released, washing away houses and flooding nine low-lying barangays (sub-districts) in South Cotabato Province.

2. It affected 73,351 persons, of which 2,405 at some point were evacuated to higher ground because of the overflowing of Lake Maughan in Tiboli, South Cotabato. In total, seven people were confirmed dead and 39 people injured. Approximately 800 houses were damaged, as well as important infrastructure like hospitals, bridges, schools, etc. The estimated damage to private and public properties amounts to PHP 87.562 million (approximately USD 1.714 million).

National Response

3. The National Disaster Co-ordination Council - Office of Civil Defence facilitated the release of 1,050 sacks of rice worth PHP 856,000 (approximately USD 16,758). Various departments (Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Disaster Quick Response Team of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, etc.), as well as the Philippines National Red Cross, participated in the search and rescue, evacuation, relief and recovery operations.

General Information

4. No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to date.

5. OCHA is in close contact with the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Manila and the Philippines National Disaster Co-ordination Council and will revert with further information if the situation warrants it.

6. This is the last report for this earthquake unless there are unforeseen developments.

7. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
Mr. R. Müller / Ms. M. Spaak/ Ms. C. Cassabalian
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3131 / 1728/ 1173

Press contact:
(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(N.Y.) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32