(Eagle News) — At least three people, including two children, died due to the strong quakes that rocked Mindanao on Wednesday night, Oct. 16.
Strong aftershocks continued to be recorded in the region after the 6.3 magnitude quake that first hit Tulunan, North Cotabato Wednesday, at 7:37 p.m.
The latest and strongest tremor recorded was a 5.3 magnitude tremor that shook Davao Oriental at 4:53 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The tremor was 120 kilometers deep and its epicenter located 10 kilometers northeast of Manay town in Davao Oriental.
It was felt at intensity 3 in Alabel, Sarangani, while it was felt at intensity 2 in Tupi, South Cotabato and in General Santos City. Kiamba, Sarangani felt it at intensity 1.
It was not clear if this was an aftershock or a tremor incident caused by a separate movement of a tectonic plate.
One of the children who died was “crushed by a collapsed house wall” and pronounced dead in a hospital. The incident happened in the town of Datu Paglas, in Maguindanao, but the child was brought to a hospital in Tulunan, North Cotabato, according to Tulunan mayor Reuel Limbungan.
Limbungan said that he visited the medical facility where the child was brought and that he talked to the hospital director.
Another child, a 2-year old girl in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, when falling objects hit her while sleeping.
-Landslide in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur-
There was also a separate report of landslides in Barangay Poblacion and San Isidro in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, where many are feared to have been buried.
A man in his 40s also died due to a heart attack in Mlang, North Cotabato.
He was rushed to a hospital, but declared dead upon arrival.
Rescue official Anthony Allada told local television that 20 people were treated for injuries in the town of Magsaysay, near the epicentre.
Three other people were hurt in the town of M’lang, added its vice-mayor, Joselito Pinol.
The quake was 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) deep and was followed by at least two aftershocks, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
“It was the most powerful earthquake I have ever experienced,” Sara Duterte, mayor of the largest Mindanao city of Davao, and daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, told local television.
– Falling debris –
The Philippines is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
An elderly man was treated for injuries after being struck by a falling object during the evacuation of a Davao mall, local TV reported.
Jerome Barranco, civil defence officer for the region, said several people were also injured in the city of Kidapawan “as a result of falling debris”.
In General Santos, television footage showed firemen battling a blaze that engulfed the three-storey Gaisano shopping mall.
It was not known if there were still people inside the building, which was evacuated as the quake struck.
The blaze was still raging more than three hours later despite the efforts of nearly 100 firemen, fire officer Redentor Batulan told AFP.
Coastal residents of Davao fled their homes in fear of a tsunami, but rescue workers were trying to convince them to return as no warning was issued, city civil defence chief Rodrigo Bustillo told local television.
“Our volunteers are out to calm the people and tell them there is no tsunami,” Bustillo added.
Chief Philippine government seismologist Renato Solidum said there was no risk of a tsunami because the quake occurred inland, but he advised residents to check their homes for possible damage.
“We ran out of the police station, and we also let the inmates at the municipal jail out,” patrolwoman Celina Sarte told AFP by telephone from the town of Bansalan.
She said the 10 prisoners were put in handcuffs outside moments later.
(with a report from Agence France-Presse)
