By Martin Sadongdong
Authorities confirmed on Monday at least five fatalities in Davao Region (Region 11) following the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that hit Matanao, Davao del Sur on Sunday afternoon.
Rescuers conduct a rescue operation on a collapsed structure at a market in the quake-hit town of Padada, Davao Del Sur province, Philippines, 15 December 2019. EFE/EPA/CERILO EBRANO
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mark Timbal said one of the fatalities was a six-year-old girl who died at Barangay Asinan in Matanao town when their house collapsed during the quake.
The other fatality was recorded in Hagonoy town. The identity of the victim has yet to be validated.
Meanwhile, Davao del Sur provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) director Christopher Tan said two more fatalities were reported in Padada town where a three-storey public market collapsed during the quake.
He identified the victims as Elsa Ababon, 52; and Vangie Artiaga, 67.
The bodies of Ababon and Artiaga were pulled out from the rubbles of the collapsed Southern Trade public market early Monday, Tan said.
Timbal said rescue operations were still on-going to save several others who were feared trapped under the rubbles of the collapsed three-storey market.
A report reaching Davao del Sur PDRRMO said a woman estimated to be in her late 70s died after suffering from cardiac arrest in Magsaysay town.
NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said the Davao Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (RDRRMO) immediately raised its alert from "blue" to "red" after the powerful quake that destroyed houses, markets, schools, and other public infrastructures.
NDRRMC red alert status means that regular duty personnel and Operations Service Alert teams "must be on duty 24/7 to respond to the emergency or calamity," he said.
There should also be "immediate coordination" among the concerned government agencies which are part of the NDRRMC including the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (Deped), Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) among others.
Jalad said strong aftershocks that were continuously felt in Davao del Sur were hampering the rescue operations. The rescue operations had to be suspended on Monday morning due to aftershocks.
As per the latest update from the NDRRMC at 5 a.m., at least 457 aftershocks have already been recorded following the main temblor -- 130 of which were plotted while 41 were felt.
Jalad said 315 houses in Davao Region also sustained partial damages.
At least 22 infrastructures in Davao Region and Soccsksargen (South Cotabatao, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City or Region 12) were damaged by the quake.
Aside from the Southern Trade market, among the structures that were also damaged in Davao del Sur include the municipal police station, municipal hall, Maria Cleta National High School, Gaisano Mall of Digos, and Padada Church in Padada town; barangay hall at Barangay Poblacion in Matanao town; municipal police station and Nadilla Elementary School in Kiblawan town; municipal hall of Magsaysay town; Sinayawan Barangay Gymnasium, Sangguniang Bayan building, Hagonoy National High School and municipal hall of Hagonoy town; Viacrusis Hospital in Bansalan town; Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) buildings in Digos City; and Davao Doctors Hospital in Davao City.
In Region 12, among the damaged structures include the PAMANA Project multi-purpose building in Mlang town, and a public market and mini gymnasium in Talus Elementary School in Malandang town, both in Cotabato province. In Saranggani province, the Evangelical Church in Kityan Daku town was also totally damaged.
Twelve areas in Davao del Sur, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and General Santos City also experienced power outages after the quake. Electric power in almost all areas has since been restored except in Padada, Davao del Sur as of Monday.
Classes in all levels were also suspended on Monday in Davao City and Digos City in Region 11; and in Kidapawan City, Makilala, and Mlang in North Cotabato; Tupi and Koronadal City in South Cotabato; Senator Ninoy Aquino town, and General Santos City in Sultan Kudarat in Region 12.
Work was also suspended on Monday in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, and Digos City, Davao del Sur due to the effects of the earthquake.
Jalad said assessment is ongoing on the total damage of the quake in the affected areas.
Sunday's shake was the latest in a series of earthquakes that hit Mindanao island since October.