ILIGAN CITY — The 5.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Bukidnon province and felt in other parts of Mindanao Monday evening injured at least eight people and damaged several houses.
The four injured persons were recorded in Kadingilan town, the earthquake’s epicenter, where at least 100 families were affected, according to local officials.
On Tuesday morning, the town’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) said more than 20 houses were damaged.
Of the four persons injured, MDRRMC said one sustained injuries on the head, one lost consciousness and two experienced trauma due to severe anxiety.
All of the victims were brought to the nearest hospitals, said Kadingilan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Shane Therese Romo.
Romo said the affected families come from six barangays: Sibonga, 56; Salvacion, 14 families; Husayan, seven; Malinao, 11; Kibogtok, seven; and Baroy, five.
Romo said that most of the affected houses only sustained minor damages, their occupants were advised to stay outside while local engineers are currently conducting inspection and assessment.
She said Sibonga suffered the heaviest damages, with eight houses incurring major damages; in Kibogtok, the barangay health center sustained cracks on the walls, while the schools in Cabadiangan and Kibalagon also showed cracks on the walls, columns, and ceilings.
As of 5:56 am Tuesday, residents in Kadingilan experienced 37 aftershocks, according to Phivolcs.
Maramag
In the town of Maramag, local officials said at least 80 families were evacuated.
The town’s MDRRMC said 10 houses in Barangay Camp-1 were partially damaged, while four persons reported injured after being hit by falling debris.
MDRRMC head Alejandro Navarro said the displaced families consist of around 400 individuals who are now temporarily housed at the barangay’s covered basketball court.
“These number of houses partially damaged are only from one barangay. We are still awaiting the official report of other barangays that we expect to receive by noon today. We are now starting to roam around for the rapid damage assessment,” Navarro said in a phone interview.
Aside from the residential structures, some schools and establishments are also reported to have incurred damages, according to Navarro.
Valencia City
Meanwhile, patients of different hospitals in Valencia City were already back to their respective rooms after two hours of evacuating the medical facility following the earthquake.
Lt. Col. Surki Sereñas, chief of Valencia City Police Station, said around a hundred of patients of Esther Hospital, Adventist Medical, and Valencia Medical Hospital were advised to return to their rooms at 12:30 a.m.
The management of Esther Hospital temporarily evacuated their patients at the municipal covered court and in tents, while those of the Adventist Medical Center and Valencia Medical Hospital were evacuated outside the buildings.
An initial rapid damage assessment by the City’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the local police showed that two houses, one in Barangay Tugaya and one in Barangay Laligan, incurred damages when its walls collapsed, but none was reported.
Three schools are also reported damaged: Lumbo Elementary School and Sinabuagan Elementary School with cracks on classroom walls; and Tongan-tongan Elementary School with cracks on the walls of its administration building.
City Mayor Azucena Huervas has declared suspension of classes in all school levels. The towns of Quezon, Maramag, Kadingilan also suspended classes.
“Assessment of the entire city ongoing in coordination with LGU-Valencia and CDRRMO,” Sereñas said.-PNA
