Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781134041028viber_image_2026-06-10_01-35-21 (5).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Malalan Barangay Hall in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental after the magnitude 7.8 quake.<em> Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Rescue and relief operations remain hampered in the southernmost parts of Davao Occidental, with landslides, damaged ports, and disrupted communication lines preventing aid from reaching several isolated communities devastated by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the province on Monday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/10/mindanao-quake-death-toll-climbs-to-45-disaster-agency-0842">Mindanao quake death toll climbs to 45—disaster agency</a></div><p>The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll has risen to 11, while 13 people remain missing two days after the powerful quake. </p><p>Authorities believe some of the missing may have been buried by landslides triggered by the earthquake.</p><p>Among the five municipalities in the province, the hardest-hit areas are Sarangani town (also known as Balut Island) and Jose Abad Santos, where several barangays remain inaccessible.</p><p>&quot;There are areas in Jose Abad Santos na still we have to connect. Kasi merong tatlong barangay na until now, we have no information,&quot; said Harry Chester Camoro, head of the Davao Occidental PDRRMO.</p><p>&quot;So for now, we are planning to take all these foods, water, search and rescue teams to the highland of Jose Abad Santos,&quot; he added.</p><p>Camoro said relief operations have been slowed by multiple landslides that blocked major roads leading to the municipality. Many communities also remain without electricity and communication services.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TRAUMA<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The ABS-CBN News team traveled to Jose Abad Santos and found several roads partially buried by landslides, making access to remote villages increasingly difficult.</p><p>In Barangay Magulibas, resident Anabel Bacolod said half of her house was destroyed when a landslide struck. Household appliances, cooking equipment, and the entire kitchen section of their home were swept away.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/10/no-classes-in-8k-schools-as-authorities-check-damage-from-mindanao-quake-deped-0950" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Classes in quake-hit Mindanao areas could be suspended for months — Angara</a></div><p>&quot;May trauma pa, sir. Kaunting ano lang, parang, hindi mo maintindihan iyong mararamdaman. Takot ang parang nanaig sa amin ngayon. Doon lang sa labas [kami natutulog], sir. May tent na galing kay mayor kahapon at sa DSWD, sir,&quot; Bacolod said.</p><p>The earthquake also heavily damaged the Magulibas barangay hall, health center, and multipurpose gymnasium. With government facilities rendered unusable, Barangay Captain Numeriano Salameda Jr. has temporarily opened his own home to serve as the barangay hall and center for essential public services.</p><p>&quot;Iyong mga tao, may trauma pa rin po sa lindol. Bale ang mga tao na nangangailangan sa amin, pumunta lang doon sa bahay,&quot; Salameda said.</p><p>For local fishermen like Jomar Yacon, the disaster has also taken away their livelihood. The house he built through years of fishing was damaged, while fears of a possible tsunami have forced him to suspend his fishing activities after residents experienced Intensity VII shaking.</p><p>&quot;Na-trauma rin sila, sir. Natutulog sila, sir, parang tumitindig (nanginginig), na parang may lumilindol,&quot; Yacon said, referring to his children.</p><p>&quot;Sana ang tulong ay maipagawa iyong bahay namin, sir, para may tirahan kami, sir,&quot; he added, appealing for government assistance to rebuild their home.</p><p>ABS-CBN News team also attempted to reach more remote barangays in southern Jose Abad Santos but was forced to leave its vehicle in Barangay Tabayon after landslides made the roads impassable. The team continued the journey aboard motorcycle taxis to access other communities.</p><p>In Barangay Malalan, they found the barangay hall reduced to rubble.</p><p>&quot;Marami rin ang kailangan namin, mga pagkain. Iyong mga bahay namin na nasira, iyon ang gusto naming ipaabot sa inyo para matulungan kami po,&quot; said Barangay Chairman Premencio Lacay.</p><p>Provincial authorities are now coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to airlift food packs, water, and other emergency supplies to isolated communities using helicopters, as many affected barangays have yet to receive government assistance.</p><p>Meanwhile, relief efforts in Sarangani or Balut Island also remain difficult after two seaports in Davao Occidental sustained damage during the earthquake. The provincial government has sought assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard to transport humanitarian aid to the island.</p><p>Authorities continue search-and-rescue operations while working to restore access to communities still cut off by the disaster.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BwxofrddDoQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The ABS-CBN News team traveled to Jose Abad Santos and found several roads partially buried by landslides, making access to remote villages increasingly difficult.</p>

The ABS-CBN News team traveled to Jose Abad Santos and found several roads partially buried by landslides, making access to remote villages increasingly difficult.

Relief struggles to reach southern Davao Occidental after devastating quake

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Relief struggles to reach southern Davao Occidental after devastating quake

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 11, 2026 07:29 AM PHT

Read More:

Mindanao

Earthquake

Davao Occidental

Sarangani

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