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: +41-22-91712 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. Muller / 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 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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