On July 6, 2017, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake jolted the Island of Leyte, affecting more than 4,100 families or 16,040 individuals in 27 barangays. Nineteen evacuation centers opened to provide shelters to 1,661 displaced families or 6,024 individuals after the tremor damaged 3,593 homes. Aftershocks were still being felt as of July 20, 2017, which cause families and individuals to feel unsettled in their homes.
LDS Charities, through the partnership with LGUs of Kanang Municipality and City of Ormoc, has distributed 1,000 hygiene and sleeping kits as well as 1,000 tarpaulin kits to calamity victims. In addition, 240 tarpaulin kits were allocated to members of the Ormoc Philippine Stake (diocese). Non-government organizations and government agencies provided and facilitated in the distribution of food kits.
LDS Charities met with Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez to discuss any assistance members of the Church can render in the rebuilding phase of the affected areas.
Following the earthquake, priesthood leaders accounted members of their stakes and districts. All members and missionaries have returned to their regular routine work after the tremor. Other members and missionaries assisted in the relief operation of the church, such as the in the repacking and distributing of hygiene and sleeping kits.
The 6.5 magnitude quake have affected the water systems and power lines. Nine generators were deployed in chapels to provide electricity in areas with intermittent outages. However, three generators were returned as soon as electricity normalized in assigned areas. Access to safe, drinking water also improved days following the earthquake.
Missionaries in the Tacloban Mission received solar lamps with cell phone charging capabilities to allow them to communicate with their families and to send reports to leaders.
Members of the Church have returned to their homes after seeking temporary shelters in meetinghouses.
Eight Church meetinghouses were affected by the tremor with visible minor damages such as cracks on the walls, tiles, floors and pavements. These damages were already inspected and reported.