Surigao City was in shambles with authorities still unable to determine damages to property and infrastructure after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck on Friday night leaving at least six people dead and injuring a total of 126 persons.
According to the Philippine Instutute Volcanology and Seismology, the earthquake struck at 10:03 pm, its epicenter located 14 kilometers north of Surigao City.
Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Response Management Office head, Ramon Gotinga, confirmed the number of fatalities adding that damages to property and infrastructure are still being assessed.
Philvocs reported a number of aftershocks following the quake, ranging from magnitude 2.0 to 3.9.
The US Geological Survey also reported a 6.5 magnitude quake at 10 kilometers north-northeast of Mabua and 12 kilometers north-northwest of Surigao, occuring at a depth of 27 kilometers.
The Tsunami Warning Center pointed out that there was no tsunami threat from the quake.
Surigao City public information officer Annette Villaces told reporters Saturday morning that several roads and bridges are no longer passable and that some buildings and homes collapsed due to the earthquake.
“The city is also suffering from power outage and security forces, including the Office of Civil Defense, continues to check for any more casualties,” Villaces said.
Surigao-based seismology chief Daphne Agonia, for her part, pointed out that there were a lot of cracks on the ground and some bridges also suffered from the earthquake.
“These bridges are also prone from collapsing because of the quake,” she said.
The OCD – Caraga said in a statement that it has identified three of the casualties as Robert Eludo Jr., JM Arise, and Lito Wilson.
Initial report said at least 61 people were injured and 14 were admitted to Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City as of Saturday morning.
They added that some residential and commercial buildings were heavily damaged.
“There were also reported trapped individuals in the collapsed houses and buildings,” said OCD-Caraga spokesperson April Sanchez, adding that rescue operations are still ongoing.
Classes in all levels have been cancelled as well as the work in both private and government offices, according to Villaces. 6 killed, 126 wounded in Surigao quake
The death toll in the 6.7-magnitude quake that struck Surigao City Friday night has climbed to six, while wounded persons numbered 126.
This was disclosed by Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Response Management Office head, Ramon Gotinga, in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) as of 12:00 noon Saturday.
“Death toll as of now is six, on the damages (sustained), assessment is still ongoing,” he added.
“Number of wounded as of now is at 126,” he added.
The 6.7-magnitude tremor that rocked Surigao City at about 10:03 p.m. Friday also damaged the city’s airport and several buildings and structures.
Several other buildings and business establishments, among them the Gaisano Capital shopping mall, Parkway Hotel, and Absolute Essentials building, also suffered damage.
Partial damage was observed at the Surigao State College of Technology, Palma store, parts of the road in Barangay Rizal, and parts of the National Highway in Barangay Luna.
Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, 4th Infantry Division spokesman, said the earthquake also wrecked the bridge in Barangay Anao-aon in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte.
A power outage engulfed a large part of the city as soon as the temblor struck, then aftershocks were felt, he said.
Rescue operations by the 30th Infantry Battalion are still underway in Surigao City and other parts of Surigao del Norte as of Saturday, Martinez said.
