Injuries, damaged houses reported after magnitude 6 Davao de Oro quake —OCD

Minor injuries and damaged houses were reported following the magnitude 6 earthquake that hit New Bataan in Davao de Oro on Wednesday night, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Thursday.

“Only minor damage were reported as of reporting time, majority were residential houses,” OCD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said in a statement.

“Several minor injuries were reported (exact numbers yet to be determined),” he added.

The supply of power, water, and communication remain uninterrupted as of reporting time, according to Alejandro.

Affected OCD regional offices and local disaster management offices are currently conducting assessment, coordination, and monitoring for further development, he added.

In a public briefing, Alejandro said some hospitals also reported minor damage but their operations still continue.

“Meron pong hospitals tayo na nakaranas ng mga minor damage pero 'yung operations po nila tuloy tuloy wala pong problema as we speak. Syempre, kagabi nung nangyari ito nag-execute sila ng mga evacuation procedures,” he said.

(We have hospitals that suffered minor damage, but their operations continue without any problems as we speak. Of course, last night when this happened they executed evacuation procedures.)

“But wala naman so far from DOH (Department of Health) wala tayong report na talagang nahinto or apektado 'yung operation ng mga hospital,” he added.

(But so far from DOH, we have not yet received reports that the operations of the hospitals have been stopped or affected.)

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Davao de Oro Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) head Joseph Randy Loy said two students in New Bataan reportedly sustained minor injuries and have already received first aid treatment.

“Karamihan kahapon mga estudyante ‘yung nag-faint o hinimatay dahil doon sa lindol. So far, okay naman sila, based on the report,” he said. 

(Many students fainted yesterday due to the earthquake. So far, they are now okay, based on the report.) 

“So far, wala naman kaming reported na casualties na death cases, but ongoing ang ating assessment sa mga munisipyo and barangay,” he added. 

(So far, we have no reported death cases, but our assessment in the municipalities and barangays is ongoing.) 

Loy said classes and work were suspended in several areas, except for those that provide frontline services. He also said the PDRRMO has also deployed three teams to conduct structural integrity assessment of buildings in the province.

According to him, one house was totally damaged in the municipality of Nabunturan, while “major cracks” were found in several infrastructures in New Bataan where the epicenter of the earthquake was recorded.

“Meron din tayong naitalang landslide, but this is ongoing ang evaluation ngayon ng munispyo ng Montevista, particularly in barangay Mayaon and New Cebulan,” he added.

(We have also recorded a landslide, but the municipality of Montevista is still evaluating this, particularly in barangay Mayaon and New Cebulan.) 

Alejandro reminded the public to exercise the “duck, cover, and hold” protocol during earthquake in order to minimize the effects and number of casualties.

He also pointed out the importance of proper compliance to the National Building Code to prevent further damage and casualties.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 6:44 p.m. on Wednesday, was located at 12 kilometers N 29° E of New Bataan.

It added that the quake occurred southeast of Compostela in Davao de Oro with a depth of 28 kilometers.

Citing PHIVOLCS’ data, Loy said at least 20 aftershocks were already recorded as of 5 a.m. on Thursday, ranging from magnitude 1.5 to 3.6.   

Meanwhile, PHIVOLCS officer-in-charge Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said at least 345 aftershocks were recorded as of 8 a.m. on Thursday.

“As of 8 a.m. kanina, nakapagtala kami ng 345 aftershocks and 'yung magnitude range would be from magnitude 1.5 to 3.6 so 'yung pinakamataas na aftershocks na naramdaman natin is 3.6 and isa lang 'yung felt sa mga aftershocks na narecord namin,” he said in a public briefing.

(As of 8 a.m., we recorded 345 aftershocks and the magnitude range would be from magnitude 1.5 to 3.6, so the highest aftershocks we felt was 3.6. Only one of the aftershocks we recorded was felt.)

“And we would expect that these aftershocks would continue for several days up to probably several weeks,” he added.—Joviland Rita, Giselle Ombay, and Richa Noriega/KBK/AOL, GMA Integrated News