RESIDENTS living near Paragon Davao Condominiums along MacArthur Highway, Matina returned safely to their homes on Saturday after they were advised to vacate for safety reasons following a strong earthquake on Friday afternoon, Nov. 17.
Captain Hazel Tuazon, spokesperson of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said the 174 residents took temporary shelter at the Barangay 76-A gym.
Accordingly, the office received information that the high-rise building, which was under construction, was damaged due to the earthquake. Initial information showed that the tower crane swayed violently until the counterweight fell to the ground, taking a portion of the exterior wall with it.
The safety officer assured the police that there were no workers injured during the incident.
Fallen debris from the building fell on the house of Rogelio Castro Bontardo, male, 77, resident of Almond Street, SIR Phase 2, Matina. His roof and ceiling sustained minor damage but, fortunately, no one in his family was injured.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Sarangani Island, Davao Occidental also rocked Davao City at 4:14 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, sending people outside on open ground for safety.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the quake’s epicenter was located 05.37°N, 125.15°E – 030 km S 81° W of Sarangani in Davao Occidental, and had a depth of 10 kilometers, Phivolcs said in its first advisory on the temblor.
Phivolcs said the quake did not pose a tsunami threat to the Philippines.
Photo courtesy of DCPO
