World Vision reaches areas hardest hit by 6.9 Philippine quake

Army says more than 40 dead, hundreds still missing

World Vision's assessment team leader Bing Duran says the majority of people in the hardest hit towns of Guihulngan, Tayasan and Jimalalaud are traumatised and afraid to return to their houses for fear of aftershocks.

Reaching the three towns proved challenging for the team; bridges and roads have been severely damaged and are impassable to regular vehicles. Staff instead used habal-habal (local motorbikes) in order to navigate the huge cracks and debris along the way.

Upon reaching Guihulngan, where most of the deaths occurred, displaced families sheltering under trees welcomed the World Vision team.

"Those affected told me they experienced 10-minutes of intense shaking when the earthquake struck yesterday" Duran explains.

The local hospital was badly damaged by the quake and subsequent aftershocks. Patients have been transferred to tents outside the facility due to fears it may collapse. One of them, eight-year-old Jomari was badly burnt during the quake.

"All the hot cooking oil in the frying pan was spilled around my legs and feet while the land was shaking" he says.

Bing Duran expects Guihulngan's residents, especially the children, may need some form of counselling to help them recover from the experience.

"Based on what we saw and heard, people are in great distress. They do not need anything in terms of relief aid as of the moment - they are just so afraid".

How can you get involved?

• Please donate to World Vision's Asia Pacific Emergency Fund. Contributions go toward disaster relief efforts in the region.

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