THE Provincial Government of Davao Oriental reported no damage in the province so far after being jolted by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake at 1:46 a.m. Thursday, August 12, 2021.
In a press release, the Provincial Government, through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)-Operation Center, stated that it conducted an assessment earlier Thursday, August 12, in tsunami-prone areas and critical facilities, including the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC).
"All LGUs (local government units) are currently doing their assessment in their respective areas of responsibility. Coordination is currently ongoing with the members of the PDRRM Council," the Provincial Government said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter of the tremor was located 19 kilometers northeast of Mati City. The tectonic quake had a depth of 69 kilometers.
It was felt at Intensity 5 in General Santos City and Intensity 4 in Koronadal City and Tampakan, South Cotabato.
Instrumental Intensity 4 was also reported in General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Kiamba in Sarangani; Instrumental Intensity 3 in San Francisco, Southern Leyte; Abuyog Leyte; Kidapawan City, Cotabato; and Hinunangan, Southern Leyte; Instrumental Intensity 2 in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte; Dulag, Leyte; Surigao City, Surigao del Norte; and Palo, Leyte; and Instrumental Intensity 1 in Alangalang and Carigara, Leyte.
The Provincial Government said there is no tsunami threat issued.
"Despite that there is no damage reported, the PDRRMO reminds the general public to stay calm, alert from various hazards, and stay informed," it said.
Mati Information Office head Ben Tesiorna said in a radio interview that the City Government is still monitoring the city for any possible rise of the seawater level.
Tesiorna said that as of 2:20 a.m., no untoward incident is reported from all 26 barangays but they are still monitoring possible damage on houses and infrastructures.
As of 12 noon Thursday, August 12, the Office of the Building Official, together with the Mati City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and City Engineering Office, had already conducted an inspection at the City Hall compound and has so far found no major damage brought about by the early morning tremor except for minor cracks that would not affect the structural integrity of the buildings.
The team is currently conducting inspections on other offices and buildings in the city, including schools.
Meanwhile, the Davao CDRRMO also reported no major damage in government structures, including in the Covid-19 isolation sites, after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake affected Davao City and other Mindanao areas on Thursday.
CDRRMO chief Alfredo Baloran, in an interview over the Davao City Disaster Radio, said his team was dispatched to check on government structures, prioritizing those that were previously reported to have some damage from past earthquakes.
"Katong daan nag-previously damaged due to previous earthquakes mao to'y gi-una nato, walay nadungag nga crack (Those which are previously damaged from previous earthquakes, we prioritized that, there are no further cracks)," he said.
Baloran said that based on their raw assessment, there are no recorded major damage except minor or hairline cracks noted in three Covid-19 Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs) -- University of the Philippines Mintal Isolation Facility, Doña Carmen Elementary School, and A.L. Navarro Elementary and High School.
"The facilities are all safe and no evacuation was advised," he said, adding that they already sought the help of structural engineers to further check the stability of the buildings.
Baloran also said the trained facility managers at the TTMFs managed the emergency situation very well.
"Gi-train nato ang facility managers, gihatagan pud nato sila’g orientation sa ila kung unsa ang himuon, pag-manage sa pasyente during emergency (The facility managers had been trained and oriented on what to do and how to manage the patients during an emergency)," he said.
Baloran stressed the importance of not panicking in times of earthquake, and reminded the public to follow the duck, cover, and hold. He said panic would cause more accidents and stampedes resulting in more injuries.