Manila: The Philippine government announced on Thursday the official termination of search, rescue, and retrieval operations in the four municipalities hardest hit by a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defence announced that search, rescue, and retrieval operations in the municipalities of San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Medellin, and the City of Bogo, Province of Cebu, ended on Thursday afternoon, Xinhua News Agency reported.

“The decision (to terminate the operations) followed extensive ground validation and close coordination with local responders, confirming that all reported missing persons have been accounted for and that no further signs of trapped individuals were found,” the OCD said in a statement.

With the life-saving

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