By ALI MACABALANG, MALU CADELINA MANAR
KIDAPAWAN CITY – At least five people died, scores of others injured and some buildings damaged when a Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit North Cotabato and nearby areas in Mindanao Wednesday night, followed by eight or more aftershocks felt in this city at 9:56 this morning.
The tectonic quake occurred at 7:37 p.m. about 22 kilometers southeast of North Cotabato’s Tulunan town and had a depth of 15 kilometer, according to Philvocs.
The state agency raised no tsunami warning for surrounding coastal provinces of Davao del Sur, South Cotabato and Maguindanao.
Philvocs said the tremor’s magnitude ranged between 6.3 and 7. At least eight aftershocks followed in North Cotabato towns and in this city; with the latest mild earth movement felt here at 9:56 a.m. Thursday, briefly interrupting internet signals.
Tulunan Mayor Reuel Limbongan said six-year old Janave Senda from Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao was rushed to Tulunan District Hospital after she was hit by debris from a damaged cemented wall of her house.
M’lang municipal mayor Russel Abonado confirmed that one of his constituents died of heart attack. The victim’s name is not yet available, as of posting time.
Abonado said that he received reports, through the Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management (MDRRM), that a number of his residents were injured as a result of the quake.
In Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur, Information Officer Anthony Allada said three died and 18 were injured after the earthquake. Some of the victims died after a landslide in Purok 6, Barangay Malawanit.
The tremor was also felt at varying magnitudes in Pres. Roxas and Pikit towns, North Cotabato; Digos City and towns in Davao del Sur; Sto. Nino, Lake Sebu, Polomolok, Tampakan and Tupi towns, and Koronadal and Gen. Santos cities in South Cotabato; Tacurong City, Kalamansig and Palimbang towns in Sultan Kudarat; Alabel, Kiamba and Malungon in Sarangani; Davao City; Esperanza & Rosario, Agusan del Sur; Kalilangan, Quezon, Kadingilan and Damulog, Bukidnon; Mawab, Compostela Valley; Cotabato City; Matanog, Barira, Sultan Kudarat and Datu Paglas towns in Maguindanao; Dipolog City, and Sta. Josefa in Agusan del Sur; Iligan City; Dipolog City
Local officials also declared classes in all levels suspended in entire North Cotabato including this city, saying they had to check yet the stability of school buildings in the province.
In this city where the tremor struck at intensity 7, Mayor Joseph Evangelista said they were “still verifying” reports on damages in buildings and other structures, adding that his turf’s situation was “okay.”
Administrators of the three-floor Kidapawan City Doctors Hospital brought their patients outside the building and moved them to the city gymnasium for safety.
Residents posted on social media video footages of some of the patients in stretchers and wheelchairs being herded out of the building.
Another video footage showed a woman being attended by paramedics inside an ambulance in front of commercial buildings here. The woman, who fainted at the height of the tremor, recovered later, paramedics said.
The earthquake affected the Mount Apo geothermal power plant operations, causing power outages in some parts of South Cotabato, North Cotabato and the entire city of Kidapawan for about two hours.
MALL FIRE
In General Santos City, a huge fire engulfed Gaisano mall here following the quake Wednesday night.
Authorities said the fire broke out at the food court area of the mall where a cook left behind a gas stove still on fire as he ran for safety outside the mall building during the tremor.
Firefighters from this city and nearby areas responded but failed to immediately extinguish the blaze that gutted almost half of the structural buildings of the mall.
The strong tremor also caused damage on the building of nearby mall wherein. Malls goers ran for safety as falling debris from the roof started to fall down.
Mayor Ronnel Rivera,who rushed to the scene, ordered the suspension of classes in all levels. (with a report from Joseph Jubelag and Zea C. Capistrano)
