Situation Report # 1
23 April 2019, 10:00pm
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.
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 Kamias, 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.
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 Kamias | Two (2) dead -one minor |
| Porac, Pampanga | Sitio Patal, Brgy Kamias | Two (2) 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 Kamias, Porac, Pampanga | Extensive cracks |
| Camias High School | Brgy Kamias, Porac, Pampanga | Extensive cracks, should be inspected |
As of this situation report, data on the number of damaged residences have not yet been received. Photos however, have been sent through mobile phone from field staff, showing partially and totally damaged houses.
Table 3. Damage to Residential Shelter
| Location | Type | Affected Households |
| Porac, Pamapanga | Partially Damaged | TBD |
| Porac, Pampanga | Totally Damaged | TBD |
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.
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 Kamias, Porac | 613 families, displaced, evacuated |
Hundreds of families are displaced and are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
I. From Government
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that it has 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.
II. From Private Sector
UNOCHA reported that the Philippine Red Cross is doing rescue operations and provided ambulances and rescue equipment and generators to those affected by the earthquake. Additionally, A-PAD Philippines partner Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) has provided food and medical assistance, generators and helicopters to assist with search and rescue efforts.
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. Kamias, 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 |
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