Damage from quake climbs to P14.2M

CEBU CITY (Updated) -- The magnitude 7.7 earthquake that shook some parts of the Visayas on Friday night has caused around P14.2 million damage to infrastructure, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In its 6 a.m. Sunday report, the NDRRMC said the estimated damage was based on reports submitted by government agencies and local disaster management councils from Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

The agency also reported that as of Saturday night, electricity was restored in Eastern Samar, Tacloban City in Leyte, Siargao Islands and Surigao City.

Power in these areas was cut Friday evening following the earthquake that struck off the coast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. The tremor drove hundreds of families to higher grounds, after a tsunami warning was issued by the government. It also triggered a landslide that killed a 54-year-old woman in Cagayan de Oro.

Cebu and Central Visayas were spared from serious damage, according to NDRRMC.

But in the province of Eastern Samar, which felt the tremor at intensity 7, the San Pedro Quinapundan bridge was slightly tilted, while cracks were spotted in four other bridges, a congressman reported.

“The situation’s back to normal here although half of the province has no electricity,” said Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone on Saturday in a text message.

He also reported that several damaged bridges in Eastern Samar are not passable.

In Southern Leyte, road cracks were also reported in St. Bernard, but all roads and bridges in the province are passable.

A public market in San Isidro, Surigao del Norte was declared “not safe for regular operations” after six of its columns were damaged, while a house was burned down in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur when a gas lamp fell during the quake.

State volcanologists, meanwhile, recorded 153 aftershocks as of 8 a.m. Saturday.

“We expect aftershocks if there are significant events such as this,” said Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Mactan chief Robinson Jorgio.

One of the strongest was a magnitude six aftershock at 7:36 a.m. near Burgos, Surigao del Norte.

The Phivolcs said Sunday that aftershocks from Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake are still expected to happen. It advised the public to take necessary precautions.

The government has activated regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure immediate response once local government units make requests for assistance.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has also started assessing the structural integrity of government buildings, while local government units have been checking buildings in their jurisdiction to make sure they are prepared once a huge earthquake hits. (Sunnex)