Four Filipinos still missing after strong quake hits Mandalay
The Philippine government wants to help find four missing Filipinos after a very strong earthquake hit Myanmar. But for now, they’re still waiting for permission from the Myanmar government to send a team to help in the search.
“We already asked Myanmar, and we’re still waiting for their answer,” said Atty. Chris Noel Bendijo from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Hoping to Join the Search
Even though Myanmar has stopped looking for survivors and is now doing retrieval operations (which means finding bodies of people who didn’t survive), the Philippines still hopes to send a team to Mandalay, the place where the four missing Filipinos lived.
“We just hope they say yes, so we can help—at least to find our kababayans (fellow Filipinos),” Bendijo said in an interview.
Four Filipinos Still Missing
The earthquake was very powerful and caused many buildings to collapse. Sadly, four Filipinos in Mandalay haven’t been found yet.
Myanmar said they are now asking other countries to send home their teams, as the focus is no longer rescue but retrieval.
PH Medical Teams Staying Until April 10
Even if other teams are being told to go home, the Philippine medical assistance team will stay until April 10 to continue helping people who are hurt or sick.
Who’s Part of the Philippine Team?
The Philippines sent a big group—89 people in total—to help after the earthquake. They arrived in Myanmar on April 1 and 2. The group includes:
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Philippine Army
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Philippine Air Force
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Bureau of Fire Protection
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MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority)
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Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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Doctors and nurses from the Department of Health
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Private companies like APEX Mining and EDC
They are led by Lieutenant Colonel Erwen S. Diploma.
Earthquake Deaths and Injuries
The earthquake in Myanmar happened on March 28 and was magnitude 7.7—that’s super strong! 
According to Reuters, the disaster caused:
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3,471 people to die
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4,671 people to get injured
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214 people still missing
Hoping for a Miracle
Even though it’s a very sad situation, the Philippine team is still hoping for a miracle—that the missing Filipinos will be found safe.
