Earthquake Disaster Response Team Reports from the Philippines
A Peace Winds team arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday in response to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the day before. A nurse, coordinator, and other professionals from our ARROWS disaster team are on the hard-hit southern island of Mindanao. They are working with local partners, speaking with survivors to assess their needs, and distributing clean water and shelter materials.
General Santos, a major city on Mindanao, was hit hard. Peace Winds staff reported many damaged and destroyed homes, buildings, and infrastructure as they surveyed the city. However, cleanup and repairs have already begun in some areas.
The team met with a doctor at one local hospital who said that despite extensive structural damage, he and his colleagues are doing everything they can to keep the hospital functioning. This includes moving essential facilities like the emergency room and intensive care unit to the safest first floor and transferring patients they cannot treat to hospitals in Davao–nearly 90 miles north.
Despite experiencing considerable devastation themselves, residents of General Santos expressed great concern for those in other disaster-stricken areas. “We’re okay, but please help Glan,” was the response that Peace Winds staff were often met with when they explained that they were there to provide disaster relief.
Glan is a coastal town in southern Mindanao near the epicenter of the recent earthquake. More than 100,000 people are reported to have been affected by the disaster, but because roads from General Santos to Glan have been cut off and communications have not been fully restored, the true extent of the damage is still unknown.
Peace Winds is exploring all means of delivering aid as quickly as possible. Staff are also surveying other isolated communities, such as mountainous areas, that are believed to be severely affected. Your donations help us continue these efforts. To contribute, please choose “Philippines Relief & Recovery” in the donation dropdown menu, or click here to learn more about donating to Peace Winds.
