VP Sara appeals for calm after Davao Occidental earthquake

Vice President Sara Duterte called for calm among the public after a powerful earthquake jolted parts of Davao Occidental on Friday.

"Nakababahala po ang malalakas na lindol na nangyari sa Mindanao kaninang 4:14 ng hapon. Ako man ay nakaranas din ng malalakas ng lindol noong ako ay alkalde ng Davao at meron itong dala na trauma," Duterte said in a statement on her Facebook page.

"Kinakailangan natin maging kalmado, at unahin ang pagcheck ng ating mga bahay at gusali para paghanda sa aftershocks," she added.

(The strong earthquake that hit Mindanao at 4:14 p.m. Friday is concerning.  I have also experienced a powerful quake when I was mayor of Davao and it brought trauma.)

By this time, Duterte said local disaster councils would already have gotten a situation report on the effects of the earthquake to allow them to respond immediately to the needs of their constituents.

The Vice President said among the focus of responses to the affected Mindanao people should include the restoration of electricity to the households.

"Sa mga kalamidad na katulad nito, lumalabas po ang kahalagahan ng ating mga earthquake drills at iba pang pagsasanay para sa kahandaan. Manatili po tayong kalmado, matatag at nagkakaisa," she said.

The magnitude 6.8 earthquake jolted parts of Davao Occidental and caused damage to structures.

Authorities reported two casualties in General Santos City on Friday following the earthquake, according to Jerwen Paglinawan's report on Super Radyo General Santos.

The San Isidro Police Station said the couple died after the concrete wall of a structure collapsed as a result of the tremor.

President Ferdinand Marcos has ordered government agencies to immediately attend to the needs of the quake victims.—LDF, GMA Integrated News