Strong aftershocks jolt Soccsksargen, Davao

MANILA, Philippines — Strong aftershocks of a magnitude 5.6 tremor that struck Makilala, North Cotabato on Tuesday night hit parts of Soccsksargen and Davao yesterday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a magnitude 4.9 tremor struck 16 kilometers southwest of Makilala at about 8:56 a.m.

The quake was felt at Intensity 5, which is classified as strong, in Kidapawan City and Intensity 2 in Kalilangan, Bukidnon; Cagayan de Oro City, and Davao City.

The aftershock was felt at Intensity 5 in Makilala, Kidapawan and Koronadal cities, all in North Cotabato, and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

 It was recorded at Intensity 4 in Davao City; Polomok, Tupi, Tampakan, Sto. Niño, Tacurong City and Qurino in Sultan Kudarat, and Glan and Malungon in Sarangani.

At least 10 aftershocks were reportedly felt since Tuesday.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said around 70 students at the Crossing Bayabas National High School in Toril district, Davao City were evacuated.

“The students experienced nausea, dizziness and fainting due to the strong quake that hit the city,” the OCD said in its report.

Three of the students were hospitalized for still unknown injuries, the report added.

The magnitude 5.6 quake, which struck at about 8:36 p.m. on Tuesday, was also felt at Intensity 5 in Kidapawan and Intensity 2 in Kalilangan, Bukidnon and the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

The quake damaged structures, including a ceiling at the Salud Cagas Technical and Vocational High School in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, which collapsed.

Patients in hospitals in Kidapawan were evacuated to public gymnasiums.

Kidapawan Mayor Joseph Evangelista said personnel of the city disaster risk reduction and management council are on standby for any contingency.

No casualty was reported as of yesterday afternoon.

Classes suspended

Meanwhile, classes in at least seven schools in Kidapawan and nearby towns were suspended yesterday in anticipation of more aftershocks. 

City education officials announced the class suspension over radio station dxND.

Edgar Posadas, spokesman for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the class suspension would also pave the way for the inspection of schools in quake-hit areas. – With Jaime Laude