BUTUAN CITY -- The initial estimated damage of the 6.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Surigao del Norte and Surigao City on Friday evening has now reached almost P700 million.
The number of fatalities stands at eight people and more than 200 injured.
This is based on the data released Tuesday, February 14, by the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (RDRRMC) Operations Center, which is continuously monitoring the effects of the earthquake.
The “Red Alert Status” is still in effect at the RDRRMC Operations Center and its member-agencies.
The Surigao City Council has declared Surigao City under a “state of calamity.”
The earthquake affected 60 barangays, 1,790 families, and 9,320 individuals. Eight were recorded dead and 203 were injured.
The fatalities were identified as Robert Eludo, Jr. 40, of Purok 1, Barangay Bilabid, JM Ariar, 4, of Sitio Aton, Barangay Ipil, Lito R. Wilson, 36, Purok 4, Barangay San Juan, Lorenzo L. Deguino, 85, Purok 5, Barangay Poctoy, Roda Justina Taganahan, 83, Barangay Bonifacio, Rommel Tano, 17, Purok 3, Barangay Anomar, and Jenelyn Ebale, 5, Purok 6, Barangay San Juan, all of Surigao City and Wenefreda Aragon Bernal, 66, of Purok 3, Barangay Honrado, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte.
Of the injured, 181 were outside patients, 15 were admitted in hospitals, and seven were referred to hospitals outside Surigao del Norte, or a total of 203.
The Anao-aon Bridge at San Francisco, Surigao del Norte, collapsed during the earthquake and is still impassable. Vehicles are being detoured to Delani Crusher in Barangay Diaz. Malico Bridge at Daang Maharlika Road (Lipata-Surigao Section) has only one lane passable to only light vehicles.
The Daang Maharlika Road (Surigao-Ipil-Lipata Section/Surigao-Agusan Section) suffered intermittent damaged road sections. Removal of debris and clearing operations are ongoing and heavy trucks are rerouted to Surigao-San Juan coastal road.
The Surigao-Davao Coastal Road, Magpayang Mainit Wharf Road, Surigao San Coastal Road, and Surigao Wharf Road suffered only minor cracks and are passable to all types of vehicles.
Power supply is fully restored in the towns of San Francisco and Malimono of Surigao del Norte and Surigao City. The water supply of the town of Malimono was totally repaired but the pressure was low.
Repair is still ongoing for the Matin-ao Water Reservoir and Pipelines (Mainit town) and San Francisco Annex Water Supply (San Francisco) while the Parang-parang Source, Ima-Cananez Source and Lumaban/Balibayon Source of Surigao City are now fully restored.
Cancellation of flights is still in effect due to the damage of Surigao City airport and the damage to roads and bridges going to Lipata Ferry Terminal of Barangay Lipata, Surigao City. All vessels as well as port operations are transferred to Surigao City Port.
Destroyed houses in Surigao City and Surigao Province reached 143 and those damaged totaled 1,647. The damage to infrastructures and lifelines totaled P690,048,532.91 in cost. The total cost of assistance extended to Surigao City was P7,175,331.37.
Classes in all levels in Surigao City are suspended starting on February 13 until further notice, but there is already work in those offices or buildings that have been declared safe to occupy. (PNA)
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