DOH: Patients brought back inside Sarangani hospitals after earthquake

MANILA, Philippines — Patients have been brought back inside the hospitals in Sarangani, a day after a deadly earthquake struck off its coast on Monday and forced them out for safety, according to the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday.

The DOH said that among these hospitals is Malungon Sarangani Provincial Hospital. Sarangani is one of the badly-hit areas of the earthquake.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Maasim in Sarangani at 7:37 a.m., with tsunami warnings issued and later lifted in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.

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“Many patients are already inside the hospital but others remain inside temporary facilities while ensuring the structural integrity of buildings,” the DOH said in a Facebook post written in Filipino.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and other cabinet secretaries went to the General Santos City on Monday to provide relief to the affected victims of the earthquake.

The DOH said it deployed trucks containing medicines and other hygiene kits to the Davao region and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City).

Herbosa also said that hospitals needing more manpower will be supported by the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT). PEMAT is a self-sustaining team providing medical assistance and public health services.

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According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the earthquake has killed 37 individuals and injured 479 as of Tuesday.

Based on the NDRRMC’s figures, 33 deaths, 456 injuries, and four missing persons were recorded in the Soccsksargen, while four deaths and 23 injuries were reported in Davao region. /mr

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