39,806 houses damaged in Cebu earthquake

Up to 39,806 houses and five heritage churches were damaged when the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu last week, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

- By MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

Of the houses, 3,743 were located in the municipalities of Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio and Borbon as well as Bogo City.

The quake also jolted the nearby province of Bohol where several houses were also damaged.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) said five heritage churches and several tourist sites were damaged by the quake.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the churches are undergoing inspection and assessment and would be endorsed to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for restoration and rehabilitation.

The NDRRMC said it has yet to assess and determine the amount of damage to property caused by the powerful quake, which left 72 people dead and 559 others injured.

The temblor affected 165,988 families or 611,624 people including 415 families who are staying in four evacuation centers.

Food and nonfood assistance worth more than P138.6 million have been provided to quake-affected communities in Central Visayas.