New earthquake rattles Mindanao

By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent
and Malu Cadelina Manar
Mindanews

BARANGAY chairman Cesar Bangot of Makilala, North Cotabato, was waiting for relief aid for his people from the town government inside his office when the beam of the barangay hall collapsed and crushed him to death yesterday morning.

Mindanao was rattled by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake yesterday morning, the second strongest earthquake to rattle Mindanao this week.

Authorities said the beam of the barangay hall of Batasan where Bangot was holding office fell straight on his back. He was waiting for the relief goods intended for victims of the Oct. 29 earthquake that displaced hundreds of families in Purok 5, Barangay Batasan. They were temporarily housed at the barangay’s covered court but had to leave the area again when the structure collapsed during yesterday morning’s earthquake.

The magnitude 6.5 earthquake was felt as far as Cagayan de Oro, but the effect here was lesser. The Earthquake Intensity Meter at city hall registered at “Intensity II.” Still, many people in Cagayan de Oro found themselves rushing outdoors during the shaking.

In Davao City, initial reports said at least nine people were hurt and five others were missing when posh condominium at Ecoland 4000 in Davao collapsed.

In Kidapawan City, Eva’s Hotel crumbled, its façade destroyed, forcing the city’s building officials to declare it not fit for occupancy.

At least seven people who were holding office at Eva’s Hotel were rescued and were brought to the command post the city government temporarily set up located just outside the city hall.

Reports said that since the magnitude 6.6 earthquake Tuesday, almost half of the buildings in Kidapawan’s city’s commercial district cracked.

These included shopping malls, grocery centers, restaurants, pharmacy stores, hotels and inns, appliance centers, banks, and hospitals. They were ordered closed for business, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Col. Rey Alvarado, commander of the Army 72nd Infantry Battalion, said the entire façade of Eva Hotel collapsed.

Alvarado said no one was injured.

“Luckily, the hotel stopped accepting guests two days ago after city building officials found some cracks,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado said it was a different story at the adjoining Kidapawan Doctors Hospital where rescuers had to evacuate all the patients from the eight-story building.

Alvarado said the evacuation lasted until 12 noon.

In Davao City, Lt. Col. Consolito Yecla, Task Force Davao commander, said soldiers and rescuers were still searching for five tenants of Condominium 4000 in Ecoland, Davao City as of 12 noon yesterday.

Earlier, Yecla said, rescuers pulled out nine people from the debris, one of them in serious condition.

“Our soldiers and rescuers are inspecting the lower floors right now looking for the missing. It is a slow process,” Yecla said.

Yecla said the ground level and second floor of the Ecoland building collapsed at the height of the tremblor.

He said they have already finished searching the top floors where they found the nine tenants.

“The condominium is destroyed. It should be condemned,” Yecla said.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a magnitude 6.5 quake struck Tulunan, North Cotabato.

Phivolcs said the tremor was felt in Kidapawan and Davao cities at intensity seven.