The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) was continuously assessing the impact of the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit Sarangani, Davao Occidental on Friday, Nov. 17.
Based on the initial assessment of the OCD, the impact of the quake was "manageable" as its regional offices were not yet asking for assistance from the national government despite the relatively powerful shaking, Civil Defense spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said Saturday, Nov. 18.
"They are not yet asking for any help from the national government so it's manageable. I think with the regional resources, they can manage," Posadas shared.
He, however, reiterated the commitment of the National Operations Center of the OCD and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to assist regional DRRM offices in addressing the needs of affected residents.
Posadas said at least 60 houses in South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental and Sarangani were damaged while 32 infrastructure projects in Davao City, Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, General Santos City, Davao Oriental, and Sarangani were also affected.
There were 11 roads in Soccsksargen (Region 12) that sustained damages, two of which were deemed impassable to motorists. There were also four bridges in the region that were slightly damaged although all of them were still passable.
The OCD earlier said it was validating the reported death of seven individuals due to the earthquake: three in General Santos City, two in Glan, Sarangani; and one each in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental and Malapatan, Sarangani.
"Karamihan doon, natabunan at nabagsakan (Many of them were buried under the rubbles or hit by debris)," Posadas said.
The earthquake, previously reported to be at magnitude 7.2, struck off the coast of Sarangani at 4:14 p.m. Friday and was felt in many areas in Mindanao. Its epicenter was located at 34 km northwest of Sarangani Island with a 72-km depth of focus and tectonic origin.