THE death toll from the two recent earthquakes that jolted Mindanao this week is at 17, disaster authorities said, as Cotabato, one of the hard hit provinces, has declared a state of calamity.

In a situational report on Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it also raised its alert status to blue so that its personnel could coordinate response efforts in the regions of Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos) and other areas affected by the earthquakes.