The 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao at exactly 7:37pm on Wednesday, October 16 is considered as the strongest tremor to ever hit Davao City in recent years, according to Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
CDRRMO chief of operations and warning Rodrigo Bustillo, during the I-Speak media forum held at the City Hall of Davao on Thursday, October 17, said the tremor on Wednesday evening was an intensity 5 and was capable of damaging infrastructures.
“So far, mao ni ang pinaka kusog na niabot sa Davao City. Kasagaran sa mga linog diri kay intensity 4 lang,” said Bustillo.
Based on the consolidated report of CDRRMO, four establishments in Davao City were recorded to have significant damages caused by the powerful quake.
That includes SM Lanang, SM Ecoland and Abreeza Ayala Mall of Davao which were left with cracked walls while a fire hit a house in Farland, Dacoville.
Apart from Davao City, the tremor also shook a wide area in General Santos City, North Cotabato, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental, among others.
A Facebook post courtesy of Ruby Quilban and Vincent Anthony Sungcog, showed a photo of a partially damaged building of Cor Jesu College in Digos City.
The photos shown visible debris which horribly fell off from the pillars and walls of the school.
Meantime, a fire broke out at Gaisano Mall of General Santos after the deadly earthquake.
Bustillo, however, said the City Government of Davao City deployed two teams from the fire auxiliary unit of Central 911 that were set to respond fire fighters of General Santos City on Thursday morning to help put out the blaze.
He said it is the mandate of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to respond neighboring provinces in any disaster.
