THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday reported minor damage, mostly to houses, from the magnitude 6 earthquake that hit Davao de Oro on Wednesday night.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said aftershocks are expected to continue in the coming days. As of noon yesterday, it said it has recorded 377 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 1.3 to 3.6.
In Malacañang, visiting United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III said he was relieved to hear that damage from the quake was not significant but said he knows this could change as things develop.
He pledged humanitarian aid for those affected by the tremor.
“We stand ready to help in any way that we can… So, please don’t hesitate to reach out,” Austin said during a courtesy call on President Marcos Jr.
NDRRMC spokesman Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro said classes in Davao de Oro and in Davao del Norte were suspended yesterday, pending assessment of the damage to school buildings.
“There were only minor damage reported to us as of last night (Wednesday night), mostly on houses,” Alejandro told a press briefing yesterday.
He said walls of some hospitals suffered cracks, prompting evacuation procedures. “But their operations continued, there is no problem as we speak,” he said.
Alejandro said local government authorities are continuing efforts to assess the extent of the damage from the quake. He said the NDRRMC is awaiting updates from its field offices.
Alejandro said people suffered minor injuries from the quake but could not immediate give a number.
“There were two reported (injured) in New Bataan (in Davao de Oro) but we have no official report,” he said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Wednesday said the quake’s epicenter was some 12 km northeast of New Bataan town. Yesterday, Phivolcs revised the report, saying the epicenter of the quake was some 9 km southeast of Compostela town, also in Davao de Oro. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
