60 buildings in Davao City sustained damage during Mindanao earthquake

Sixty public and privately-owned buildings in the southern Philippine city of Davao were damaged following the magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck several parts of Mindanao on Tuesday, the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) revealed.

Teams from Davao City's CDRRMO, composed of engineers and other technical personnel, were deployed on Wednesday to assess the establishments, according to a Balitanghali report by Cedric Castillo.

Rodrigo Bustilo, operations head of the Davao City CDRRMO, said the establishments sustained minor and major damage. One condominium had a structural failure.

The tenants of the said condominium were thus not allowed to return to their units for the meantime, and the CDRRMO will first have to wait for the technical team's recommendation before deciding whether to retrofit the building or order its full closure.

Some public schools also sustained minor cracks due to the earthquake.

The CDRRMO is letting the school authorities, as well as Department of Education engineers, to decide whether the affected school facilities are still safe to use.

If a school principal however is in doubt, it is best not to use the damaged facilities, the CDRRMO advised.

The government agency said while there has been no cancellation of classes on Wednesday, there were reports that parents themselves did not allow their children to attend school, causing delays in the holding of classes.

No casualties were reported in Davao City following the earthquake.

The Davao City Police Office advised the public not to spread fake texts and social media messages and be vigilant following the quake aftermath. —Jamil Santos/KG, GMA News