Deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary General, Farhan Haq, told the media different groups have already been deployed to the areas affected by the recent 7.0 magnitude tremor.

Local disaster response teams are also working on the ground conducting search, rescue and debris removal operations, the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration plans to deliver three thousand tarps and will send an evaluation mission on Thursday to the areas that suffered the most from the earthquake, which hit hard in the mountainous province of Abra.

At least five people were killed and more than 57 injured by landslides, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

Numerous structures collapsed, including several buildings of heritage value.

The earthquake was felt on Wednesday in numerous Philippine territories such as the capital, Quezon City and Peñablanca, the Manila Times newspaper reported, after which more than 500 aftershocks were registered by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

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