Cracks appeared in roads after the quake.

7 February 2012: Plan's disaster risk experts have arrived in Negros Oriental, Philippines, to conduct a rapid assessment after a 6.9 earthquake hit the province just before noon on Monday.

Speaking from Guihulngan city in Negros, Avianto Amri, Plan's regional disaster risk management specialist, said many people are still waiting for assistance.

"We have seen that many houses here have collapsed and many buildings that were two storeys have now become one storey. Electricity is still out and it's totally dark here. People are trying to salvage everything they can from their houses," he said.

"Many people are still spirited but they are also uncertain about when aid will come. The main needs now are blankets because it is cold at night and mats as most of the people are now staying in a field. Food and drinking water are also needed."

Casualties

At least 52 people, including a 9-year old girl, have been reported dead in Negros and many more are missing following landslides in various parts of the province. In the village of Planas, at least 29 people were buried beneath 10 metres of soil after a landslide.

The quake triggered another landslide in the mountain village of Solongon in La Libertad town, also in Negros Oriental. An unknown number of people were trapped, said Inspector Eric Arrol Besario, the town police chief.

School's out

Classes in all public and private schools in Negros Oriental were suspended, while businesses in Dumaguete City shut down.

The Department of Education in Eastern Visayas suspended all classes in grade school and high school in the affected areas in preparation for building inspections. Classes have been suspended in Negros Oriental and in the cities of Cebu, Dumaguete and Lapu-Lapu, as well as the province of Iloilo in Western Visayas.

“In times of disasters, children are the most vulnerable, particularly to malnutrition, disease, disruption to education, and potential abuse and exploitation," said Carin van der Hor, country director of Plan Philippines.

"We have seen children’s vulnerability in Cagayan and Iligan during Typhoon Sendong. Plan hopes to mitigate this vulnerability in Negros,”

Plan has an ongoing disaster response project in the villages of Bio-os and Tambujangin in the municipality of Amlan, Negros Oriental. Among its activities, the project covers cash-for-work arrangements for the survivors of Typhoon Sendong.

Click here to read more about Plan's response to Tropical Storm Sendong.

For media enquiries please call Nopporn Wong-Anan on +66-81-839-3032 or email Nopporn.Wong-Anan@planinternational.org