Situation Report # 2
25 April 2019, 3:00PM
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
- At around 5:11 PM on April 22, 2019, an #earthquake of tectonic origin struck Western Luzon, with its epicenter 2 kilometers from the town center of Castillejos, Zambales.
- 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.
- USEC for DRR-CCA Renato Solidum explained that Pampanga suffered more damage than Zambales because of soil liquefaction and proximity to the water table.
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.
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.
Field staff coordinated with Disaster Preparedness Committee (DPC) members of Barangay Camias, 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.
On April 24, ABI staff visited nearby Brgy. Nabuclod, Florida, Pampanga, and were met by even worse damage. Four deaths were recorded in the barangay, with only one recovered from the rubble.
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 | Clark International Airport | 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 Camias | Two (2) dead -one minor |
| Porac, Pampanga | Sitio Patal, Brgy Camias | Two (2) dead |
| Florida, Pampanga | Brgy. Nabuclod | Four (4) dead) |
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 Camias, Porac, Pampanga | Extensive cracks |
| Camias High School | Brgy Camias, Porac, Pampanga | Extensive cracks, should be inspected |
Photos of damaged houses have been sent through mobile phone from ABI field staff. The following table shows the number of affected families:
Table 3. Damage to Residential Shelter
| Location | Type | Affected Households |
| Brgy. Nabuclod, Florida, Pampanga (7 sitios) | Partial damage | TBD |
| Brgy. Nabuclod, Florida, Pampanga (7 sitios) | Total damage | 164 houses |
| Brgy. Camias, Porac, Pampanga (7 sitios) | Partial damage | 595 houses |
| Brgy. Camias, Porac, Pampanga (7 sitios) | Total damage | 105 houses |
Photo 10. Collapsed walls in Brgy. Nabuclod, Florida (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. Hundreds of families are displaced and are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
The following table shows the number of displaced families:
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 Camias, Porac | 613 families, displaced, evacuated |
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
I. From Government
On April 22, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that it has PHP 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.
By April 24, DSWD reported having spent PHP 190,000 worth of relief goods and assistance to Pampanga communities.
II. From Private Sector
The Philippine Red Cross staff and volunteers are assisting with rescue operations and provided ambulances, rescue equipment and generators to those affected by the earthquake.
Members of the private sector affiliated with Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation provided food and medical assistance, generators and helicopters to assist with search and rescue efforts.
III. From CDRN and other NGOs
On April 24, ABI staff prepared hot meals for the community of Brgy. Camias, Porac, Pampanga. The indigenous women of the community helped in the cooking and distribution of the meals.
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. Camias, 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 |
As of April 25, data is still being gathered from Sta. Cruz, Zambales and other towns west and north of Castillejos, the epicenter of the earthquake.
Data Sources:
- Disaster Needs Capacities Assessment (DNCA) by ABI in grassroots communities in Pampanga
- PDRRMO Situational Report April 22, 2019
- https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/04/23/1911901/powerful-zambales-quake-death-toll-rises-hunt-survivors-continues
- https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/flash-update-no-02-earthquake-zambales-philippines-23-april-2019