2 people dead, some 50 others injured in Masbate quake —mayor

Two people died and at least 50 were injured in the magnitude-6.6 earthquake that badly hit Cataingan town in Masbate  on Tuesday.

Interviewed on "Dobol B sa News TV" on Wednesday, Cataingan Mayor Felipe Cabataña said the recently recorded casualty was due to a heart attack triggered by the earthquake.

"Sinama na namin sa casualty kasi 'yang tao na namatay, may sakit sa puso, na-trigger ng earthquake," Cabataña said.

Citing initial reports, Cabataña said those injured meanwhile rose to about 50.

However, the Office of Civil Defense V said 48 were injured.

Evacuation

A school was used as an evacuation center for those affected, but the Cataingan mayor said physical distancing was not observed due to the huge number of evacuees.

Cabataña said their funds were already used up for COVID-19 response.

"Wala na, na-allocate na namin sa COVID. Hindi naman namin inaasahan na may lindol pa... Walang-wala na talaga," he said, as they appealed for assistance from the national government.

Structural damage, including houses and public and private establishments, was initially estimated to hit P115 million.

Earlier, authorities reported the death of retired  Police Colonel Gilbert Sauro, a resident of Sitio Alimango in Barangay Concepcion in Cataingan town.

The earthquake — initially recorded as magnitude 6.5 — was recorded at 8:03 a.m. on Tuesday.

Its epicenter of the quake was located at 11.98°N, 123.98°E - 005 km S 17° W of Cataingan.

Its depth-of-focus was one kilometer, and it was tectonic in origin.

A magnitude 5.1 aftershock meanwhile occurred at 5:50 a.m. on Wednesday. —Jamil Santos/LBG/KG, GMA News