Butuan City suspends classes, mobilizes disaster teams after 7.8-tremor
BUTUAN CITY – Butuan City and neighboring areas suspended classes following the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani province in Southern Mindanao region on Monday, June 8.
The earthquake was felt in the five provinces and six cities of the Caraga region.
“To give way to the conduct of rapid damage assessment of infrastructures and facilities, classes on all levels are hereby suspended immediately for the safety of students and wait for further development,” Butuan City Mayor Lawrence Fortun said.
The city government has mobilized audit and disaster risk reduction and management teams to look into the integrity of all infrastructure here.
Some government offices and private establishments were given the discretion to suspend work or work from home, especially those in the medical profession.
Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Caraga mobilized disaster teams in every province and city to assess the impact of the earthquake.
“We are also verifying on the ground the condition of the 70-year-old Magsaysay Bridge here and other infrastructures regionwide,” DPWH-13 Assistant Regional Director Engr. Vincent Roderick O. Acebes said.
Police Major Jennifer S. Ometer, Police Regional Office-13 Public Information Office chief, said they have deployed teams to assist local government units Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils.
The Southern Mindanao and Northeastern Mindanao Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils are closely monitoring the aftermath of the earthquake.