Quake damages reach P3B; death toll now 72

Displacement has also reached alarming levels, with some 65,000 families forced out of their homes and in urgent need of temporary shelter.

- 

Ainjeliz Dela Torre Orong of the Capitol's Public Information Office confirmed that the official death toll now stands at 72, with 366 individuals reported injured. She noted that many families are currently staying outdoors because evacuation centers cannot yet be declared structurally sound.

At present, there is no safe and permanent evacuation site in the affected areas, forcing thousands of displaced residents to camp out along streets and open grounds.

INFRA DAMAGES

DPWH teams have been deployed to clear debris and repair critical road networks to restore mobility for aid distribution. Secretary Vince Dizon noted that repairs on roads and bridges are being prioritized, but he emphasized that a parallel assessment of schools must also be expedited.

So far, nine roads remain impassable due to collapsed structures, landslides, and severe ground ruptures that rendered portions unfit for passage.