DAVAO CITY – Several infrastructure, including schools, in the Davao region were damaged following a magnitude-6.8 earthquake on Friday, November 17.
Karlo Alexie C. Puerto, information officer II of the Office of the Civil Defense-Davao, said that the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-Davao has raised the alert status of its Emergency Operations Center to red alert to intensify monitoring and mobilization of resources to earthquake-affected communities.
He said all local DRRMC offices have been directed to monitor their areas of responsibility closely and coordinate with the RDRRMC-Davao for immediate response actions.
Puerto added that among the damaged infrastructure was Maghanoy Elementary School in Sarangani and minor cracks on some school buildings are still being verified in Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental.
He said partially damaged houses were also reported, five in Barangay San Isidro, two in Barangay Caburan Small, and one in Barangay Sugal in Jose Abad Santos and one in Barangay Langay in Lupon, Davao Oriental.
Puerto said four families were evacuated in Barangay Patulang, Jose Abad Santos.
In Davao City, among the structures that sustained minor cracks include the Lingap Toril Building in Barangay Toril, Langub Elementary and High School in Barangay Langub, Rosario Building in Barangay Ma-a, barangay hall of Barangay Tagluno, and a bridge near Amparo Homes in Barangay Ilang.
Puerto said a pedestrian bridge in Barangay Matina Crossing was cordoned off after new cracks were observed following the tremor.
The crane on the rooftop of the high-rise condominium tower The Paragon Davao of Cebu Landmasters in Barangay 76-A also collapsed.
No casualty was reported following the collapse, save for 174 individuals who were evacuated to the barangay hall in Purok 46.