LOPEZ, Quezon – Fifteen houses sustained damage after the ground ruptured in Purok 2, Barangay Matinik, this town, on Saturday night, Dec. 14.
A HOUSE sustains heavy damage after the ground ruptured in Lopez, Quezon on Dec. 14. (FB)
Residents were sleeping when they felt the earth move. They rushed out of their houses and saw the earth rising and concrete houses topple and sustain cracks.
Residents evacuated to their barangay hall which was not affected by the shaking and spent the night there.
Residents said the weather was fine and felt no earthquake.
A resident, Judy Cabildo, said they had experienced typhoons and earthquakes before and this was the first time the ground opened up in the area.
Cabildo said 15 of 24 houses in the area were damaged and three of them completely collapsed. Also damaged were pathways, a railway, and a school. Classes and the Christmas party were suspended as safety precaution.
She said they could still hear continuous rumbling in other houses as of Sunday morning, Dec. 15.
Power was out and water supply was affected after the reservoir emptied.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has coordinated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau for a study and assessment of the incident.
Eighty-six persons from 35 families are staying in the evacuation center. They are awaiting the decision of DENR-MGB personnel if they would be allowed to return to their homes.