Caap requests inspection of Siargao airport after strong quake

MANILA -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) requested a government agency to inspect an airport in Surigao Del Norte following the 7.6-magnitude earthquake on August 31.

The Caap said the Siargao Airport sustained no damages but it requested the Department of Transportation and Communication to conduct further assessment to ensure the stability of the runway, according to a report of the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).

While the Siargao airport located at Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, may have been unaffected by the quake, the NDRRMC reported other infrastructure damages in the province.

The agency said cracks were seen on the walls of the municipal town house and on almost the entire wall of the regional health unit office in Gigaquit town.

Cracks were also found on a column and a beam of a reservoir at Gigaquit Central Elementary School, which was "suspected to be dangerous for the pupils," disaster officials say.

In the town of Sta. Monica, the NDRRMC said the walls and floors of the Municipal Hall and gym have developed cracks.

Cracks were also observed in schools in 11 villages in the same town.

In the town of Tubod, cracks were observed on the walls of seven residential buildings and on a national bridge.

The NDRRMC earlier said around P14.2 million worth of restoration cost and damage to infrastructure has been caused by the earthquake that shook some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao on Friday night.

As of Monday, 351 aftershocks were recorded by state volcanologists but only two were felt, the NDRRMC said.

The agency added that its Operations Center has downgraded from "Red Alert" to "Blue Alert" status.

The earthquake still has a single casualty, identified as Elenita Ubalde, 44, and one injured victim, Adrian Rosales, 5, the NDRRMC said. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)