M.6.1 Zambales Earthquake April 2019

Situation Report # 1

23 April 2019, 10:00pm

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

CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY

  • At around 5:11 PM on April 22, 2019, an of tectonic origin struck Western Luzon, with its epicenter 2 kilometers from the town center of Castillejos, .
  • 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.

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)
Photo 4. ABI staff interviewing the community (Marvin Natividad)

Field staff coordinated with Disaster Preparedness Committee (DPC) members of Barangay Kamias, 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.

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

Table 1. Damage to Human Population

TOWN/PROVINCE LOCATION PERSONS AFFECTED
Clark, Pampanga Seven (7) injured
Porac, Pampanga Chuzon Supermarket Eleven (11) dead Thirty (30) missing
San Marcelino, Zambales Sitio Bayarong Tikes, Brgy Mahawen One (1) dead -minor
Porac, Pampanga Sitio Kuyokot, Brgy Kamias Two (2) dead -one minor
Porac, Pampanga Sitio Patal, Brgy Kamias Two (2) dead
Photo 5. Coffins for the landslide victims in mountain barangay Kamias (Marvin Natividad)

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 description Location Extent of Damage
Creek Canal Brgy Burgos, San Marcelino Minor, presumed functional
Calvary Church Porac, Pampanga Major, structure should be inspected
Barangay Roads Brgy Kamias, Porac, Pampanga Extensive cracks
Camias High School Brgy Kamias, Porac, Pampanga Extensive cracks, should be inspected
Photo 6. Porac in poblacion Porac sustained damage (Marvin Natividad)
Photo 7. Damaged classrooms at Camias High School (Marvin Natividad)
Photo 8. Damage noted at water reservoir in Porac (Marvin Natividad)

As of this situation report, data on the number of damaged residences have not yet been received. Photos however, have been sent through mobile phone from field staff, showing partially and totally damaged houses.

Photo 9. Partially damaged house (Marvin Natividad)
Photo 10. Still standing but with severely weakened pillars (Marvin Natividad)
Photo 11. Totally damaged house (Marvin Natividad)
Photo12. Damaged house vacated by residents (Marvin Natividad)

Table 3. Damage to Residential Shelter

LocationTypeAffected Households
Porac, PamapangaPartially DamagedTBD
Porac, PampangaTotally DamagedTBD
Photo 13. Aeta communities under tarp tents in sweltering summer heat (Marvin Natividad)
Photo 14. People prefer to sleep in tents while aftershocks rock the region (Marvin Natividad)

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.

Table 4. Earthquake-induced secondary hazards

Type of Hazard Location Affected households
Landslide Mt. Bimmukel, Sitio Lomibao, Buhawen, San Marcelino 120 families displaced, evacuated
Landslide Brgy Aglao, San Marcelino None
Landslide Brgy Kamias, Porac 613 families, displaced, evacuated

Hundreds of families are displaced and are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

I. From Government

                The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that it has 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.

Photo 15. Ambulance ready for possible survivors from landslide in Porac (Marvin Natividad)

II. From Private Sector

                UNOCHA reported that the Philippine Red Cross is doing rescue operations and provided ambulances and rescue equipment and generators to those affected by the earthquake. Additionally, A-PAD Philippines partner Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) has provided food and medical assistance, generators and helicopters to assist with search and rescue efforts.

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. Kamias, Porac, Pampanga.

Table 5. Relief Requested

Relief Volume Beneficiaries
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

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