UMAABOT na sa 72 ang kumpirmadong nasawi sa magnitude 6.9 na lindol na yumanig sa northern Cebu nitong Martes ng gabi.

Ayon sa National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 294 naman ang naiulat na nasugatan.

Sa datos, 30 ang nasawi sa Bogo City; 22 sa San Remigio; 12 sa Medellin; 5 – Tabogon; 1 – Sogod; 1 – Tabuelan at isa sa Borbon.

Sa Bogo City, personal na tumungo si Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at inatasan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno gaya ng AFP, PNP, PCG, at BFP na ilipat ang operasyon mula search and rescue patungo sa relief at rehabilitation.

Ayon kay Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Junie Castillo, walang naitalang nawawala matapos makumpirma ng local government units na lahat ng residente sa kanilang lugar ay accounted for.

“As of today, there are no reported missing, even from the LGUs. The assumption is all are accounted for,” ani Castillo.

Kumpirmado rin ni PNP Public Information Office Chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuano na natapos na ang search-and-retrieval operations nitong Miyerkoles ng gabi.

“Ang PNP, ayon sa kautusan ng Pangulo, ay naka-concentrate na sa relief and rehabilitation operations at pagpapanatili ng seguridad sa mga apektadong lugar para maiwasan ang looting incidents,” paliwanag ni Tuano.

Gayunman, nananatiling prayoridad ng pamahalaan ang debris clearing at relief operations upang agad na makabangon ang mga nasalanta ng trahedya.

Foreign envoys Nakiramay

Nagpaabot ng pakikiramay ang iba’t ibang foreign envoys sa Maynila para sa mga residente ng Cebu.

“Our deepest sympathy and condolences for the victims who perished in the earthquake in Cebu. The EU stands in solidarity,” pahayag ni European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro.
Nagpahayag din ng pagdadalamhati si Canada Ambassador David Hartman: “We mourn the loss of lives and stand with those who are grieving, injured, or displaced. Canada stands ready to

coordinate closely with Philippine government agencies, humanitarian partners, and the international community to help meet urgent needs.”
Mula naman kay Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown: “Sad news overnight. Australia extends its condolences to those impacted by the Cebu earthquake. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured.”

Ayon kay German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke, “Deeply saddened to learn about the earthquake in Cebu last night. My prayers are with the victims and their families. Germany stands in solidarity with the Philippines.”

Nagpaabot din ng pakikiramay si Japan Ambassador Kazuya Endo: “I am shocked to learn about the reported casualties and damages caused by the strong earthquake last night in Cebu. My heartfelt sympathies go to the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with you during these challenging times.”

Maging si Czech Republic Ambassador Karel Hejč ay nagpahayag ng pakikiisa: “The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila extends its profound sympathy to the people of Cebu and neighboring provinces. At this difficult time, the Czech Republic keeps in our thoughts the victims, the injured, and all those engaged in relief and recovery efforts.”

Nagpahayag din ng kalungkutan si French Ambassador Marie Fontanel: “France offers its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the Philippine authorities. France stands in solidarity with the Philippines.”

Mula naman kay Romanian Ambassador Răduța Matache: “Sympathy and prayers for all those affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu and the Visayas. In solidarity, we shall overcome.”

Nagpaabot rin ng pakikiramay ang Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): “We extend our heartfelt condolences to those affected by the earthquake in the Philippines. Taiwan stands in solidarity with the Filipinos in the face of this tragedy.”

Samantala, iniulat ng Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) na nakapagtala ng 795 aftershocks, kabilang ang apat na malalakas. Pinayuhan nito ang publiko na asahan pa ang karagdagang aftershocks sa mga susunod na araw.

(JESSE RUIZ/CHRISTIAN DALE)