All national roads, bridges passable in areas affected by quake; only minor damage reported, says DPWH

(Eagle News) — All national roads and bridges in areas affected by Sunday’s (Dec. 15) magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao are passable, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In its executive summary report, DPWH said that the major thoroughfares and viaducts in Regions 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao Region), and Caraga Region are now open to vehicles.

It is now currently assessing roads, bridges and other buildings.

“No reported damages; all national roads and bridges are passable,” the DPWH said in its report but noted that only the major roads and bridges in the quake hit areas only had “minor damage.

It said that in Region 12 (Soccsksargen), motorists were already allowed to use major roads and bridges with minimal destruction.

A damaged road is seen in Padada, in Davao del Sur after a 6.9 magnitude quake struck the province on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 15, 2019. (Eagle News Service)

“All national roads and bridges are passable with minor damage,” the DPWH said.

“On-going assessment on roads, bridges, and other public buildings,” it added.

At least four bodies have already been recovered from the quake’s rubble. One was a six-year old girl who died after the house in Matanao, near the quake’s epicenter, collapsed. Three other bodies were retrieved from the rubble in Padada town’s public market, where a three-storey building which housed a grocery store, collapsed after the quake.

At least 49 persons were reported injured because of the quake.

Last October, Mindanao was also hit by a series of strong tremors, the strongest of which were recorded at magnitude 6.3 on October 16, magnitude 6.6 on October 29 and magnitude 6.5 on October 31.