Death toll from Philippine earthquake rises to 185

The official death toll from magnitude 7.2 earthquake in central Philippines last Tuesday rose to 185 people, a senior official said on Sunday. Speaking at a press conference, Eduardo del Rosario, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said nine people are still missing and 583 others were injured. As of Sunday, del Rosario said the number of affected population is 703,244 families or 3,542,281 people in central Philippine provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, and Iloilo. Of the number, 22,816 families or 113,227 people are in 93 evacuation centers. Del Rosario said workers have shifted to search and retrieval from search and rescue for the missing persons, who are all from Bohol. However, he stressed that there is enough relief supplies for the people affected by the quake that severely hit Bohol and Cebu, the problem is bringing these supplies to those in the remote areas. Asked if there is a need to sound an international appeal for assistance, del Rosario said there is no need, at least for now. " Maybe more on the recovery but (not) on the direct assistance now, " he said.