Another earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 jolted Matanao and Magsaysay towns in Davao del Sur, southern region of Mindanao, around 2PM this afternoon which left a six-year-old girl dead when hit by a collapsed wall inside her house in Barangay Asinan, Matanao, while also traumatized many adults and children in the said region and also in other parts. The said girl was immediately brought to the Disaster Center of the area but was unfortunately declared dead upon the arrival. In addition to this, it was also reported that two bridges in this place was damaged while half of its municipal hall has collapsed. Lastly, a water tank also spilled in a hospital on this area. PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) has declared Matanao as the epicentre on the earthquake.
Recorded as the strongest since the one in October 16 of this year, the tremor was also felt quite strongly in nearby places such as Padada, Digos, Kidapawan City, General Santos City, Koronadal, Bansalan, and Sarangani City. In Padada and General Santos City, reports through video sent by several netizens shown many mall employees and shoppers panicked inside during the incident which last for more or less 30 seconds. In Davao City, damages on bridges, private condominiums, overpass, and roads were also reported. SM City in Ecoland of Davao City was also reported to have some parts collapsed.
Earthquakes intensity by city:
- Davao City, Matalam and Tulunan (North Cotabato), Glan (Sarangani) and Cotabato City – Magnitude 5
- Talakag, Kalilangan and Dangcagan (Bukidnun) – Magnitude 3
- Impasug-ong, Dipologm and Cagayan de Oro City – Magnitude 2
- Zamboanga del Sur – Magnitude 1
In Padada, Davao del Sur, it was said that there were more than ten people trapped inside a collapsed public market during the earthquake. Among those, 3 were already rescued and authorities are still doing the rescue operation. In addition, a two-storey building also collapsed, named Canlas Commercial building, but luckily there were no casualties. However, a water reservoir near the public cemetery also collapsed, leaving 8 persons injured. In some parts, huge cracks on lands or roads were also found.
Meanwhile in Kidapawan City, which was badly hit and still recovering from the October 29 tremor, people scurried for safety inside Gaisano Grand Mall, fearing that some parts of the building will collapse again. As of this moment, numbers of damages are also expected to rise while people are told to beware of the aftershocks. Luckily, there are no tsunami warning announced.
Sources:
- https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2019/12/6-9-quake-hits-mindanao-shoppers-employees-feared-trapped-as-shopping-center-in-padada-collapses/
- https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/15/asia/philippines-earthquake-mindanao-davao-intl/index.html
