DAVAO CITY — The powerful earthquake which jolted Southern Mindanao Sunday afternoon has caused the collapsed of several buildings and houses in Davao del Sur.
The 6.9 magnitude earthquake which took place at around 2:11 in the afternoon, December 15, Phivolcs located the epicenter at a coastal community of Padada, Davao del S
Residents of the affected communities have started to leave their houses for safety as they still felt series of aftershocks.
There are unconfirmed reports that people were trapped inside a commercial store and inside the school building of Southern College of Padada which was holding classes for Sunday school students.
As of this posting, the Office of Civil Defense has yet to officially announce the extent of damage, but social media posts showed several structures and road were damaged.
Various social media post from residents showed collapsed building including a three-storey grocery store.
Philippine Volcanology and Seismology Director Director Renato Solidum in an interview with CNN said “It is a very strong earthquake which will result to damages.”
Solidum said the hard hit was the town of Matan-ao. The Epicenter is located 06.64°N, 125.30°E – 006 km N 86° W of Padada (Davao Del Sur).
The following intensities were recorded:
- Intensity VII – Matanao and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur
- Intensity VI – Kidapawan City; General Santos City; Bansalan, Davao del Sur; Alabel and Malapatan, Sarangani; Koronadal City
- Intensity V – Tulunan and Matalam, Cotabato; Cotabato City; Davao City; Glan, Sarangani
- Intensity III – Kalilangan, Talakag, and Dangcagan, Bukidnon Intensity II – Impasugong, Bukidnon; Cagayan de Oro City; Dipolog City
- Intensity I – Zamboanga del Sur
The faults which caused the quake according to Solidum is far from the Makilala, North Cotabato fault.
Residents whose houses are showing cracks “Should stay away from their houses now, and have this checked before re-occupying it,” Solidum stressed.
No Tsunami Alert
Solidum however downplayed the possibility of having a Tsunami “The origin of the earthquake is land and we have yet to establish if it can cause tsunami, but as it is now, we cannot issue a Tsunami alert,” he added.
ALSO reAD: 6-9m-earthquake-hits-southern-mindanao/
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) the Magnitude 6.9 earthquake affected countries: Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia.–Editha Z. Caduaya
