Philippines Doublet Quake: Fear and water scarcity grip children and families in Davao region
Following the back-to-back magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes that struck Davao Oriental last October 10, World Vision Philippines team is now in the municipality of Manay, the earthquake’s epicentre or ground zero, to assess the needs of affected families and coordinate with local government units for possible support.
Although Manay is a small and rural town with fewer concrete structures compared to quake-hit Cebu, the impact of the ‘doublet earthquake’ remains evident. The municipal hall, district hospital, churches, and several homes sustained visible damage.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 125,283 families or 491,258 individuals were affected. At least eight people have died, and authorities continue to warn of possible aftershocks.
Children recount moments of fear as the ground violently shook.
“Last Friday, when the earthquake happened, I was at home playing a video game. Suddenly, the ground shook very hard. It was the first time I had ever experienced such a strong earthquake. I was almost trapped, so I hid under the table to keep myself safe,” said Zaiden, 11 years old. “When it stopped, I immediately ran to my grandmother because I was so worried about her.”
“I was sleeping when the earthquake struck,” shared Kiko, 12 years old. “I woke up when the electric fan fell on me because of the strong shaking. I was so scared. All classes are suspended now. I feel sad because I will miss school, and I don’t know if our classroom is still okay.”
Zaiden added that the water supply has become a problem since the quake. “Right now, we need water because all our faucets are damaged. We just rely on the government giving us bottled water, but it’s not enough.”
As of this report, hundreds of families in Manay remain anxious, staying in makeshift shelters and open areas at night. Power outages and limited access to safe drinking water persist in several barangays.
“We continue to seek your prayers and support as we journey in the recovery of people here in the Davao region,” said Carlo Cajipo, World Vision staff.
World Vision assessment team continues to verify the extent of the damage across Davao region and has initially identified urgent needs such as emergency shelter, safe water, hygiene kits, food, and medical supplies. Psychosocial support sessions have also been requested for teenagers, who are the most affected by the series of aftershocks.
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For media interviews, contact:
Lei Kimmayong, World Vision Communications Manager,
Email: lei_kimmayong@wvi.org | Mobile: +63 9499964619