MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority sent an additional 10-man rescue team with canine units to Bohol on Wednesday to augment the eight rescuers the agency deployed to the earthquake-ravaged province Monday.
MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the second team brought along with them three K-9 dogs and underground camera sensors to search for people possibly trapped in collapsed buildings and other damaged structures.
"Based on reports, Bohol sustained heavier damage so we deemed it right to send another rescue team to assist in the ongoing rescue and clearing operations," he said.
Tolentino added that the agency continues to coordinate with Bohol Gov. Ed Chato and the local Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council for the rescue efforts.
Aside from additional tools and equipment, the second MMDA team to Bohol also brought more generator sets as the entire province still has no power since Tuesday, Tolentino said. Hours after the 7.2 tremor, the MMDA deployed two teams to Bohol and Cebu.
With the arrival of the second Bohol team, the MMDA now has sufficient rescue personnel working in the two provinces.
Citing a report from Bohol team leader Aldo Mayor, Tolentino said the rescue team recovered last night a female cadaver in the town of Maribojoc, a fishing village in the western part of Bohol.
Aldo’s team will concentrate in Loon town, which also sustained heavy damage, Tolentino said.
Tolentino reiterated that the three rescue teams are equipped with extrication power tools, bolt cutters, chainsaws, and trauma kit. They also carried body bags.
At least 97 people have been confirmed killed in the powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake that jolted Carmen, Bohol and other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao Tuesday morning.