CEBU CITY -- Six people, including a four-year-old boy, have been confirmed dead while 202 were injured after a powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck near Surigao City in Caraga Region, Mindanao at 10:03 p.m. Friday, February 10, the local disaster mitigation agency said.
A report by the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as of 11 a.m. Saturday also said a bridge collapsed, some roads sustained cracks and were not passable, and residential houses and some commercial buildings were damaged.
The lights are out in the towns of San Francisco and Malimono in Surigao del Norte province. Parts of Surigao City, the provincial capital, are also without electricity, the report added.
The towns of Mainit, Sison and Taganaan, all in Surigao del Norte province, also reported a total power outage while the Surigao Metropolitan Water District announced that water supply will not be available in Surigao City because the water lines were damaged.
The Surigao Airport was ordered closed until March 10 due to massive cracks on the runway, according to a Notice to Airmen issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. All vessels bound for Lipata Port Station have been redirected to the Surigao City Port because some roads and bridges leading to Lipata Port are not passable.
Among the fatalities were Roberto Eludo, Jr., 39; Wilson Lito, in his 20s; JM Ariar, 4; and Lorenzo Deguino, 85. The RDRRMC report said they died from blunt trauma. Another octogenerian, Roda Justina Taganahan, 83, had a heart attack while Wenefreda Aragon Bernal, 66, was hit by a wall that collapsed during the quake.
The 11 a.m. RDRRMC update said a total of 108 individuals in Surigao City alone have sought treatment for various injuries -- 80 were brought to Caraga Regional Hospital, 20 are in Surigao Medical Center and eight in Miranda Family Hospital, all in Surigao City. Seven persons were also reportedly hurt in Sison town.
The report also said the Anao-aon Bridge in San Francisco town collapsed while some roads were damaged.
Parts of Surigao City Trade School, Surigao State College of Technology and Yuipco Building were damaged.
Annette Villaces, public information officer of Surigao City Government, said in a social media post that all commercial buildings that sustained major damage would be closed. Classes in all levels and work in both government and private sector were suspended "until further notice."
The tectonic quake struck at 10:03 p.m. Friday, with epicenter at 14 kilometers northwest of Surigao City and depth of 11 kilometers, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its third advisory.
Surigao City residents, fearful of a tsunami, fled to higher ground immediately after the quake. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, however, said there was no tsunami alert.
Marissa Navales, territory manager of Checktrade Pharma, a Cagayan de Oro resident who happened to be checking in at a bed and breakfast in Surigao City, said she immediately ran downstairs without her slippers when she felt the tremor.
"Naa ko sa hotel inside my room. Dios ko igo rako kahuman og ligo deretso oyog nawala dayon ang current nilupad ang tv nakadagan ko sa ubos walay tsinelas, lain kaayo akong ginhawa (I had just taken a shower inside my hotel room when the building shook. Power went out and the television flew off the shelf. I ran downstairs without my slippers)," said Navales.
The Le Chard Bed and Breakfast where Navales had just checked in is located near Parkway Hotel, which was severely damaged by Friday’s earthquake.
"Na grabe ka daghan damage, tanan tv sa 2nd floor nang lupad, ang glass nga mga doors, windows basag tanan, naukab mga pultahan, baso, plates basta mga utensils buak tanan (Television sets flew off the shelves, glass windows and doors were shattered, doors forced open, plates and glasses were broken)," Navales said describing the situation at the said hotel.
The quake was felt at Intensity VI in Surigao City as well as in Pintuyan, Southern Leyte; Intensity V in Mandaue, San Ricardo, Limasawa and San Francisco; Intensity IV in Hinunangan and Butuan City; Intensity III in Hibok,hibok, Camiguin, Tolosa and Tacloban, Leyte, Bislig City and Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental; Intensity II in Cagayan de Oro City, Talocogon City in Agusan del Sur, Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental; and Instrumental Intensity I in Cebu City.
The Philippines lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently. (Marites Villamor-Ilano/SunStar Philippines with reports from Abigail Viguella of SunStar Cagayan de Oro and Jenefer L. Besere of SunStar SuperBalita Oro)