DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A COVID-19 isolation facility suffered slight damage after two earthquakes struck the region this weekend, as the City Engineering is still determining whether to continue using this facility.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, during her program over DXQQ Disaster Radio this Monday, confirmed that a ceiling of the said building fell after two strong earthquakes over the weekend, and said the City Engineering Office (CEO) initially recommended condemning that floor for use.
The building was not identified by the Mayor, which was lent to the city government for its COVID-19 treatment and monitoring facility.
Two earthquakes struck Mindanao on Sunday, Phivolcs noted a 4.8 magnitude quake with an epicenter in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur struck on Sunday morning, followed by a 6.1 magnitude quake from the same site struck Sunday noon.
Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Alfredo Baloran, in an interview with Disaster Radio on Sunday, reported minor cracks were seen in a temporary treatment facility at the University of the Philippines-Mintal Campus. No casualties and major damage on establishments and infrastructure was monitored.
The facility was inspected again Monday morning by the city’s inter-agency office to determine if the building is still good for occupation or there is a need to evacuate the patients.
“But there was another inspection happened this morning to really determine if need to fold or close the facility,” Mayor Duterte-Carpio said.
The facility at that time was housing 42 patients out of its 70-bed capacity.
Phivolcs has advised the public to brace for aftershocks after these strong quakes.(davaotoday.com)
