LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – A sinkhole was spotted near the shore of Barangay Casabangan, Pio V. Corpuz town in Masbate province, purportedly created after a 6.6 magnitude quake struck the province on Tuesday morning.
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol Information Officer Gremil Naz confirmed that residents discovered the sinkhole, and later reported it to authorities.
“Sa Pio V. Corpuz yun, papunta na po ang team ng MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau), DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) at iba pang concerned agencies para i-assess yung nadiskubreng sinkhole,” he said.
A sea intrusion or a flooding caused by “subsidence by liquefaction or fault movement and high tide” was reported in Barangay Matayum, Cataingan, Masbate - a coastal barangay located near the epicenter of the strong quake.
Landslide was also recorded in Barangay Bogtong in Pio V. Corpuz town, Naz said.
Naz said the estimated cost of damage brought by the strong quake in Masbate was at P23.96 million.
He said that the estimated cost was based on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol’s assessment on damaged roads and government buildings.
“Yun pong estimated damage cost at ayon naman po sa assessment ng DPWH Regional Office 5 kung saan may mga nai-record na sira sa mga kalsada, government buildings at iba pa. Ayon naman po sa DepEd Bicol, mayroong 19 public schools ang nasira dala ng malakas na lindol,” he explained.
Naz also said that at least 61 houses were damaged by the strong quake, of which, 26 were totally damaged, and 35 partially damaged.
“Nasa 11 po na pamilya o kaya 40 na indibidwal ang nasa evacuation center sa ngayon dahil na nga po nasira yung mga bahay o kaya yung iba takot sa bumalik sa mga bahay nila dahil sa patuloy na nangyayaring aftershock,” he said.
Naz confirmed that all roads were passable for all kinds of vehicles in the province.
After being hit by a 6.6 magnitude quake and some residents in Cataingan town were left homeless, Naz explained.
He also said strict health protocols were still being observed by families which were taken to evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, Malacañang assured residents of Masbate that help is forthcoming but reminded them to still observe social distancing if they are staying in evacuation centers.
In an interview with CNN Philippines Wednesday morning, presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured the people of Masbate that help is ready for them.
"We'd like to assure our Masbateño brothers and sisters that help has been prepositioned and further assistance is on the way," he said.
"We're talking of food packs, bottled water, blankets, things that they would need in resettlement areas," he added.
According to Roque, the Palace already has a direct line with the local government of Masbate, especially in Cataingan where the quake was felt the strongest.
"The coordination effort to deliver what is needed by the residents of Cataingan is in full blast," he said.
Roque reminded affected residents, especially those who were forced to stay in evacuation centers, to still practice social distancing. He said there will be manpower deployed to ensure that COVID-19 protocols are followed.
Even though Masbate has a low number of COVID-19 cases, Roque said residents should not be complacent.
"One thing going for Masbate is that it has low cases of COVID-19 but nonetheless, they should not be too complacent," he said.
Based on the COVID-19 tracker of the Department of Health (DOH), Masbate has recorded 143 cases of COVID-19 as of August 18, 59 of which are active cases.
Roque, meanwhile, is unsure if President Duterte will be able to visit the residents of the quake-hit area. He, however, said Duterte would want to go there.
"The President would want to go but I don't know if he can actually go because of restrictions on his movement right now," he said. (With a report from Argyll Geducos)
READ MORE: 6.6 quake hits Masbate; 1 dead