Iloilo City ready to aid quake-hit Mindanao communities - Treñas

ILOILO CITY — The city government on Monday expressed readiness to extend assistance to communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Maasim, Sarangani, and shook large parts of Mindanao earlier in the day.

Mayor Raisa Treñas said the city has already instructed its City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to coordinate with disaster officials in General Santos City to determine the extent of the damage and identify urgent needs on the ground.

“The Iloilo city government is prepared to extend assistance to General Santos City following the earthquake that struck this morning,” Treñas said in a statement released Monday.

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She said local disaster officials have been directed to communicate with their counterparts in General Santos City and await an official assessment to ensure that any aid sent by Iloilo City would be responsive to the most pressing requirements of affected communities.

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“We will await their official assessment and report to ensure that the assistance we provide is responsive to their most urgent needs,” she added.

The earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. Monday and was initially measured by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) at magnitude 7.0 event before being upgraded to magnitude 7.8.

The quake’s epicenter was located about 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani.

The tremor was felt across several regions in Mindanao, prompting evacuations, class suspensions, flight cancellations, and damage assessments in affected areas.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that 56 barangays in Regions IX, XI, and XII had been affected by the earthquake. /gsg

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HELP MINDANAO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

The Inquirer Foundation is calling for support for communities devastated by the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao.

In partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, the foundation is amplifying appeals for food, clean water and other critical assistance for affected families.

Donors may send contributions directly to the Philippine Red Cross through its official transfer channels, the complete list is available on the PRC’s Facebook page.

The Philippine Red Cross has activated its emergency fund campaign and deployed teams on the ground to provide medical services, distribute relief goods and extend psychosocial support to affected families.

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