Manila: Rescuers found on Thursday nine dead bodies from one of two villages where landslides separately occurred after a 6.9 magnitude quake occurred under the sea off central Philippines, killing 97 people, including 71 missing on Monday, sources told Gulf News.

Nine dead bodies were found in Songgolon, La Libertad in Negros Oriental where 42 were reportedly buried. Rescuers have not yet recovered bodies from Planas village, Guihulngan town where 29 were reportedly buried, said Undersecretary Benito Ramos, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).

Rescuers vowed to continue looking for dead bodies even if the two landslide sites remained soggy, wet, and dangerous, said Ramos.

Meanwhile, Emilia Luz Medes, owner of nine-bedroom Onin Pension House in La Libertad told Gulf News in a phone interview, "We are happy that the quake spared our pension house."

"The sea in front of our pension house turned black and it became very warm during the quake. We thought that we would be engulfed by a tsunami," said Medes.

Tens of thousands affected

The quake affected a total of 74,017 residents in 59 villages, eight municipalities, one city and one province in central Philippines, said Ramos, adding that 70 per cent of Negros Oriental's population of 100,000 population suffered from the quake.

NDRRMC has finalised its figures four days after the quake, said Ramos.

Relatives have identified all the 71 who were buried by landslides during the quake, said Ramos, adding that figures of fatalities have not yet changed.

In Guiholngan and La Libertad, some 976 houses were totally damaged; 943 others partially damaged, said Ramos, adding that water supply system was totally damaged in Guiholngan, and partially damaged in La Libertad.

Schools and offices remained closed following assessments that buildings in Negros Oriental and in nearby areas were rendered unsafe by the quake, said Ramos.

Investigations intensified

NDRRMC's regional office has intensified investigation of buildings, roads and bridges in preparation for a budget for their refurbishment in all affected areas, said Ramos.

About ten bridges were damaged in Negros Oriental, including three in La Libertad, three in Jimalalud, and four in Guiholngan.

They had collapsed span, abutment, centre span, and piers; others had damaged approaches, misaligned span, and twisted body, said Ramos.

At the same time, three roads that remained impassable isolated La Libertad, Guiholngan, and Jimalalud, said Ramos.

Affected areas continue to suffer power outages and weak telecommunication lines.