Four reported missing after Leyte quake

At least four people were reported missing after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Leyte on Thursday.

"May pailan-ilan na galing sa police stations at barangay na may nagre-report sa missing...about four missing," Major Gen. Raul M. Farnacio, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said in an interview on dzBB on Friday.

The missing individuals were from the areas hit by landslides outside Kananga and Ormoc City.

However, Farnacio said the reports are still being verified. "For verification pa kasi 'to, mga galing lamang sa mga barangay officials sa remote areas."

As of Thursday night, persons initially reported trapped on the first floor of collapsed buildings have been rescued, he said. 

The Philippine Army as well as the Engineering Combat Battalion are mobilizing and checking Kananga and Ormoc which were severely hit by the earthquake, for others who may similarly be situated.

"Naka-ready na ang choppers dito, on the way to Ormoc in a while, kasi passable naman na daw," Farnacio said.

While the main road remains navigable, he said some roads in remote areas in the province are temporarily not passable due to landslides. —Rafeea Custodio/KG/KVD, GMA News