Boulders block part of this road in Kimadsil village, Carmen town following the 5.7 magnitude earthquake Saturday evening. (photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza)
According to Jerome Barranco, Assistant Director of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Office of the Civil Defense in Region XII, 60 houses were destroyed in Kimadsil village alone.
By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — In less than 24 hours, a total of 13 earthquakes struck Carmen town in North Cotabato from the 5.7 magnitude Saturday evening which hurt five people including four children, damaged 60 houses and destroyed a bridge.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded the first quake at 10:10 PM Saturday with epicenter at 12 Kilometers (Km) Northeast of Carmen. It has a depth of 5 Km.
The most recent was a 3.7 magnitude quake at 7:31 PM Sunday with epicenter at 13 Km Northeast of the town. Its depth is at 1 Km.
The Phivolcs, however, said only seven quakes were felt including the first and most recently recorded. Also felt were the 3.7 magnitude at 10:20 PM and 4.3 magnitude at 10:40 PM Saturday. On Sunday, 4.3 magnitude was felt at 7:58 AM, 4.9 magnitude at 9:40 AM and 4.0 magnitude at 2:41 PM.
Those that were not felt, the Phivolcs noted, are the 4.3 magnitude at 11:45 PM Saturday and Sunday’s 3.6 magnitude at 10:45 AM, 3.4 magnitude at 10:59 AM, 3.5 magnitude at 12:14 PM; 4.3 magnitude at 4:39 PM and 3.9 magnitude at 6:50PM.
But a resident of Kibudtungan village told davaotoday.com they felt numerous aftershocks, some are even as strong as last night.
“The last we felt was 10 minutes ago,” said Aynaderka Sison in a phone interview at half past noon Sunday. “It lasted for about 10 seconds,” she added.
She wonders though why evacuation hasn’t been ordered yet. “We don’t know what to do. Our walls have huge cracks. Two more strong shakes and our house will already collapse,” she worries.
As of Sunday afternoon, Phivolcs recorded 80 aftershocks.
According to Jerome Barranco, Assistant Director of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Office of the Civil Defense in Region XII, 60 houses were destroyed in Kimadsil village alone.
Agricultural and water facilities, school buildings and health centers were also damaged, the North Cotabato Provincial government reported. Landslide and boulders also blocked part of the national highway.
The bridge in Sitio Mutian, Kidmasil village was also destroyed.
“We’re asking the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways ) to prioritize the rehabilitation of the bridge,” said Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza in a television interview, as she expressed worry that commuters will be greatly affected.
The bridge is along a national highway that connects Davao City and Cotabato province to Bukidnon province and Cagayan de Oro City.
The local government unit has been conducting clearing operations while DPWH personnel are still assessing damages.
Taliño-Mendoza said the situation is still under control.
The earthquake last night was also felt in Tacurong City, and the towns of President Roxas and Midsayap, all in North Cotabato at Intensity 4. Intensity 3 was felt in the cities of Misamis, Cotabato, Valencia and Marawi; the towns of Tampakan and Magpet in South Cotabato; and in Makilala town, North Cotabato. Intensity 2 was felt in General Santos City, Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Padada in Davao del Sur, Camiguin, and the towns of Mlang and Tulunan in North Cotabato. Intensity 1 was felt in Dipolog City. (John Rizle L. Saligumba/davaotoday.com)
Carmen, cotabato, davao, earthquake, north cotabato, Phivolcs
