By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“Sa aming monitoring wala naman tayong naiulat na casualties. So far din, wala rin pong major damages na naiulat po sa atin.”
After a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck San Julian, Eastern Samar on Monday and caused tremors that reverberated in adjacent towns and nearby provinces, authorities reported minimal damage to infrastructure and minor injuries among those affected by the quake.
In an Ulat Bayan interview late Monday, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 8 Director Joel Erestain said that the agency convened with affected local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) to conduct an assessment of the earthquake’s effects.
Director Erestain expounded, “Sa ulat po, wala pong kinakailangang ievacuate dahil wala po kasi tayong nakitang tahanan na totally damaged. May mga minor damages lang naman po.
So far po, wala ring tayong naiulat na nawalan ng kuryente. Pati signal po, nakonekta naman po agad tayo. Nakareceive tayo ng messages po mula sa mga natamaan po ng lindol.”
The OCD Regional chief likewise cautioned against the occurrence of aftershocks following the strong earthquake, reminding residents to have their homes inspected by engineers to ensure structural integrity, further urging LGUs to offer these services to the common folk.
Meanwhile, in an interview on Rise and Shine Pilipinas, Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone noted that infrastructure assessment on various buildings, hospitals, and other facilities remains ongoing as of press time.
So far, only 6 towns have submitted their respective assessment reports outlining the impact caused by the magnitude 6.0 quake.
Gov. Evardone said, “Nag-iikot po yung mga provincial engineers para mag-inspect ng mga building, ituloy ang paggawa ng situation report. Pati po yung hospitals natin, pati po yung municipalities, tuloy tuloy po yung assessment. Pero sa kanila naman po, pati yung mga houses, damages sa mga community, tinitingnan po nila.”
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Earthquake Information No. 3, instrumental intensities are reported in the following areas:
Intensity V
- Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; Alangalang, and Dulag, Leyte; Catbalogan City and Gandara, Samar
Intensity IV
- Abuyog, Carigara, and Palo, Leyte; Palapag, and San Roque, Northern Samar
Intensity III
- Bulusan, and Sorsogon City, Sorsogon; Naval, Biliran; Hernani, Eastern Samar; Albuera, Baybay City, Hilongos, Isabel, Javier, and Villaba, Leyte;
- Ormoc City; Hinundayan, Malitbog, San Francisco, and Sogod, Southern Leyte
Intensity II
- Esperanza, Masbate City, and Monreal, Masbate; Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon; San Francisco, Cebu; Kawayan, Biliran
Intensity I
- Tabaco City, Albay; Iriga City, Camarines Sur; Virac, Catanduanes; Aroroy, and Cataingan, Masbate; Donsol, Sorsogon; Roxas City, Capiz; Passi City, Iloilo; Argao, Carcar City, Liloan, and Talisay City, Cebu; Cebu City; Maasin City, Southern Leyte
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