M 6.1 Zambales Earthquake 2019

Situation Report # 3

26 April 2019, 7:00PM

Photo 1. Church at Porac, Pampanga (Marvin Natividad, ABI).

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY

  • At around 5:11 PM on April 22, 2019, an of tectonic origin struck Central Luzon, with its epicenter 2 kilometers from the town center of Castillejos, Zambales.
  • Immediately after the quake, state agency Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported the quake as measuring at magnitude 5.7 on the Richter Scale. USGS reported it 6.3. A few hours later, both agencies agreed on a measurement of 6.1.
  • Most parts of Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac and Pangasinan were plunged into darkness as down power lines caused outages. Power was restored at around 8:00 PM in the three other provinces except for Zambales.
  • Chuzon Supermarket,  a four-story building in the town of Porac in Pampanga, collapsed during the quake burying an unknown number of people.
  • As of 10:00 PM of April 22, over 430 aftershocks have been recorded by Phivolcs.
  • At 2:02 AM of April 24, a strong magnitude 4.5 aftershock was recorded, with its epicenter 15 kilometers from Castillejos town. Rescue operations at Porac’s Chuzon Supermarket were suspended.
  • USEC for DRR-CCA Renato Solidum explained that Pampanga suffered more damage than Zambales because of soil liquefaction and proximity to the water table.

CURRENT SITUATION

            According to reports from media outlets, Clark International Airport in Clark, Pampanga sustained major damage. Parts of the ceiling fell, resulting in injuries to people lined up at the check-in lobby.

A four-story supermarket in Porac collapsed burying shoppers and employees. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing. By April 24, the LGU of Pampanga has ordered the closure of three other branches, pending review of the grocery chain’s adherence to the building code.

Photo 2. Chuzon Supermarket buried some 40 individuals (Justine Dizon).

The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on April 23, 10 AM, reported that 6-year old Waring Serano died due to massive head injuries after being hit by falling rocks in San Marcelino.

            On April 23, 2019, staff of CDRN regional center Alay Bayan-Luson Inc. conducted Damage, Needs, and Capacities Assessment (DNCA) in the hinterland barangays of Pampanga to check on organized communities there. Majority of the population are indigenous Aeta.

Photo 3. Indigenous Aeta community members in Porac (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 4. ABI staff interviewing the community (Marvin Natividad, ABI).

Field staff coordinated with Disaster Preparedness Committee (DPC) members of Barangay Camias, in Porac and learned that four members of the community were killed in a landslide. The bodies of Sheila Serrano, 42 years old and her son Aries, 9 years old, were recovered by their families in Sitio Kuyokot. Meanwhile, Sitio Patal residents Ondie Garong, 20 years old, and Carlito Abuque, 50 years old, were not so fortunate. Their bodies have not yet been recovered from the collapsed earth and rocks.

On April 24, ABI staff visited nearby Brgy. Nabuclod, Floridablanca, Pampanga, and were met by even worse damage. Four deaths were recorded in the barangay, with only one recovered from the rubble. Three-year-old Alvon Papasin of Sitio Tagak was buried under their collapsed house. The accompanying landslide killed her relatives Berto  Serrano, Lanza Laxamana and another child, 12-year-old Landok Serrano.

The following table details the number of casualties and injuries recorded as of this writing.

Table 1. Damage to Human Population

TOWN/PROVINCELOCATION PERSONS AFFECTED
Clark, Pampanga Clark international
Airport
Seven (7) injured
Porac, PampangaChuzon
Supermarket
Eleven (11) dead
Thirty (30) missing
San Marcelino,
Zambales
Sitio Bayarong
Tikes,
Brgy Mahawen
One (1) dead -minor
Porac, Pampanga Sitio Kuyokot,
Brgy Camias
Two (2) dead -one minor
Porac, Pampanga Sitio Patal, Brgy.
Camias
Two (2) dead
Floridablanca,
Pampanga
Brgy. Nabuclod *Eight (8) injured –
4 Aeta and 2 army soldiers;
*Four (4) dead) community members
Photo 5. Coffins for the landslide victims in mountain barangay Camias (Marvin Natividad, ABI).

The NDDRMC recorded a total of 29 damaged structures, including Clark International Airport. Zambales PDDRMO reported damage to public infrastructure in San Marcelino, Zambales while ABI staff recorded one in Porac, as detailed below.

Table 2. Damage to Infrastructure (public highways and buildings)

Infra Desription Location Extent of Damage
Creek CanalBrgy. Burgos,
San Marcelino
Minor, presumed functional
Calvary ChurchPorac, PampangaMajor, structure should be
inspected
Barangay RoadsBrgy. Camias, Porac,
Pampanga
Extensive cracks
Camias High School Brgy. Camias,
Porac,
Pampanga
Extensive cracks,
should be inspected
Photo 6. Church in poblacion Porac sustained damage (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 7. Damaged classrooms at Camias High School (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 8. Damage noted at water reservoir in Porac (Marvin Natividad, ABI).

Photos of damaged houses have been sent through mobile phone from ABI field staff. The following table shows the number of affected families:

Table 3. Damage to Residential Shelter

LocationTypeAffected Households
Brgy. Nabuclod , Florida,
Pampanga (7 sitios)
Partial DamageTBD
Brgy. Nabuclod , Florida,
Pampanga
Total Damage164 Houses
Brgy. Camias, Porac,
Pampanga (7 sitios)
Partial Damage595 Houses
Brgy. Camias, Porac,
Pampanga
Total Damage105 Houses
Photo 9. Partially damaged house (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 10. Collapsed walls in Brgy. Nabuclod, Florida (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 11. Totally damaged house in Brgy. Nabuclod. (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 12. Damaged house vacated by residents (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 12. Damaged house vacated by residents (Marvin Natividad, ABI).

Because of the landslides triggered by the earthquake, over a hundred households in San Marcelino were subjected to pre-emptive evacuation. In Porac, more than 600 families are living in open fields and makeshift tents. Hundreds of families are displaced and are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.

The following table shows the number of displaced families on pre-emptive evacuation due to secondary hazards, as reported by ABI:

Table 4. Displaced by earthquake-induced secondary hazards

Type of Hazard Location Affected Households
LandslideMt. Bimmukel, Sitio Lomibao,
Buhawen, San Marcelino
120 families displaced,
evacuated
Landslide Brgy. Camias, Porac613 families displaced,
evacuated
Photo 14. Aeta communities under tarp tents in sweltering summer heat (Marvin Natividad, ABI)
Photo 15. People prefer to sleep in tents while aftershocks rock the region (Marvin Natividad, ABI)
Photo 16. In Brgy. Nabuclod, the Aeta children stayed under trees and away from the weakened concrete houses (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 17. Women and children huddle under trees while aftershocks continue (Marvin Natividad, ABI).

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

I. From Government

            On April 22, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that it has PHP 1.3 billion worth of stand-by quick reponse funds and prepositioned goods in the form of family food packs and other non-food items. Four registered evacuation centers housing 245 displaced families in Zambales. In Pampanga, ABI staff noted a Porac ambulance on stand-by as landslide rescue efforts are underway.

            By April 24, DSWD reported having spent PHP 190,000 worth of relief goods and assistance to Pampanga communities.

Photo 18. Ambulance ready for possible survivors from landslide in Porac (Marvin Natividad, ABI).

II. From Private Sector

            The Philippine Red Cross staff and volunteers are assisting with rescue operations and provided ambulances, rescue equipment and generators to those affected by the earthquake.

Members of the private sector affiliated with Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation provided food and medical assistance, generators and helicopters to assist with search and rescue efforts.

III. From CDRN and other NGOs

            On April 24, ABI staff prepared hot meals for the community of Brgy. Camias, Porac, Pampanga. The indigenous women of the community helped in the cooking and distribution of the meals.

Photo 19. Aeta women and girls peel garlic for their monggo soup (Marvin Natividad, ABI).
Photo 20. Distribution of hot meals in Porac .

REQUESTED RELIEF

Alay Bayan-Luson Inc. requests that relief delivery and distribution be made to the 613 Aeta families currently living in tents in Brgy. Camias, Porac, Pampanga.

Table 5. Relief Requested

ReliefVolumeBeneficiaries
Rice (25 kilos per pack) 15,325 kilos 613 families
Dried Fish (1 kilo per pack) 613 kilos 613 families
Mongo Beans (1 kilo per pack) 613 kilos 613 families
Temporary Shelter Kits (tarp) 613 kits 613 families
Hygiene Kits 613 kits 613 families
Hot meals for children 613 families

As of April 26, data is still being gathered from Sta. Cruz, Zambales and other towns west and north of Castillejos, the epicenter of the earthquake.

Data Sources:

  1. Disaster Needs Capacities Assessment (DNCA) by ABI in grassroots communities in Pampanga
  2. PDRRMO Situational Report April 22, 2019
  3. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/04/23/1911901/powerful-zambales-quake-death-toll-rises-hunt-survivors-continues
  4. https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/flash-update-no-02-earthquake-zambales-philippines-23-april-2019