MANILA, Philippines — The search for survivors of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Central Visayas on Monday was being hampered by the strong aftershocks that continue to jolt the stricken areas.

The chief of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Central Visayas, Minda Morante, said Wednesday the aftershocks were strong enough to cause landslides and cracks on concrete roads.

Morante said that while rescuers were already in Negros, they have to look after their safety.

“We don’t want a dead hero for now,” said Morante.

In Cebu, a magnitude 5.2 aftershock, the strongest since Monday so far, forced the suspension of classes in the University of the Visayas elementary school department and the Zapatera Elementary School.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) science research analyst Rey Lumbang said there were 1,239 aftershocks from 11 a.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. Wednesday.

“Of the 1,239 recorded aftershocks, 75 were felt. The strongest intensity was Intensity 4 felt in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental at 8:41 a.m. on Wednesday,” Lumbang said.

An Intensity 4 tremor is considered moderately strong.

Lumbang said the frequency of aftershocks will decrease in a few days as the ground settles.

In Manila, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Benito Ramos said chances are slim of finding survivors among the 71 people believed buried in two landslides in Negros Oriental.

Soldiers, policemen, and local rescue teams continued Wednesday to dig through mounds of soil and piles of rocks and debris for survivors.

As of Wednesday, the NDRRMC’s official death toll from the earthquake was 26, with the injured numbering 52.

An Army official earlier reported 48 were killed, but Ramos said only 26 deaths have so far been verified.

The 71 missing are from the landslides at Barangay Planas, Guihulngan City and Barangay Solonggon in La Libertad town. Of the missing, 29 are in Guihulngan and 42 in La Libertad.

Ramos said the search for the missing will continue for “as long as it takes”.

The NDRRMC reported at least 45 houses destroyed and 92 damaged as a result of the earthquake.

Ten bridges in Negros Oriental, one road in Dumaguete. and two roads in Badian, Cebu, were rendered impassable.

Aid for the quake victims continued to arrive. Last Tuesday the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) sent 2,000 food packs and used clothes to quake survivors in Negros Oriental.

DSWD-7 information officer Jaybee Binghay said 1,400 relief packs were given to Guihulngan, 200 for La Libertad, 300 for Bindoy and 100 for Tayasan.

Each pack contains three kilos of rice, canned goods and used clothing. The department is also sending 318 blankets, 336 mats, 275 mosquito nets, 200 slippers and 30 tents.

A DSWD-7 Quick Response Team also distributed 30 tents, 330 mats, 318 blankets, 275 mosquito nets, 2,000 bottles of mineral water and 2,000 family packs, 160 boxes of canned goods (sardines and beef loaf) in the affected areas.

The distribution of the relief goods focused on the towns of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Bindoy and Tayasan.

The regional DSWD will also deploy social workers trained in stress debriefing to Negros Oriental to help traumatized victims, DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said.

A military spokesman Wednesday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will donate P2 million worth of food supplies for the quake victims.

According to Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., the amount will be used to buy bottled water, instant noodles, biscuits and other food items. (Elena L. Aben, Charissa M. Luci, Phoebe Jen Indino, Raymund F. Antonio)