- City, DPWH experts fan out to assess structural damage
INSPECTION teams from the City Engineer’s Office and Department of Public Works and Highways continue to assess the damage from Saturday night’s 7.4 magnitude quake off the coast in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
The Bolton Bridge in Sandawa and the overpass along MacArthur Highway in Matina Crossing exhibited visible cracks.
The City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) advised the public that the southbound lane of Bolton Bridge is temporarily closed to heavy vehicles as of noon on Sunday. Only light vehicles are allowed to pass the southbound lane until further notice while the northbound lane is open to all types of vehicles.
After a strong quake at 10:37 p.m., several aftershocks were recorded at 12:27 a.m. with an Intensity 3, Intensity 2 at 1:41 a.m., and Intensity 3 at 2:11 a.m.
According to the report, three mall shoppers passed out and were brought to the San Pedro Hospital for medical assistance.
Tsunami alert
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) issued its tsunami alert information no.1 indicating that people in the coastal areas of the Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental were strongly advised to immediately evacuate to higher grounds or move farther inland.
The weather bureau forecasted that the first tsunami waves would arrive between 10:37 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., on Dec 2 and waves may continue for hours.
Netizens living in Surigao del Sur posted photos and videos on social media, including the evacuation of coastal residents to higher ground after the tsunami alert.
Mati residents return
Meanwhile, 2,697 Mati City residents returned to their homes after the tsunami warning was on Sunday morning, Dec. 3.
The office first declared the tsunami warning at past 11 p.m. on Saturday. It was confirmed that high waves hit the beaches of Mati City but it only registered 0.08 meters or 3.15 inches in height.
The highest wave registered at 0.64 meters or 2 feet on Mawes Island in Hinatuan. The latest tsunami wave hit Mawes at 2:52 a.m. on Sunday. The tsunami warning band was lifted at 3:23 am.
The Mati City Social Welfare and Development Office handed out porridge to the evacuees in nine evacuation centers in the city. The landslide along the road in Panumbayon, Barangay Luban, Mati was also quickly cleared by the local government.
Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat urged the public to continue to watch out for all threats and avoid panicking.
Magnitude upgraded
On Sunday morning, Phivolcs upgraded to magnitude 7.4 (from the earlier reported 6.9) the power of the earthquake that struck 30 kilometers northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur at 10:37 p.m. Saturday, saying it struck at a depth of 25 kilometers.
Close to 4 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, Phivolcs also canceled the tsunami warning for people living in coastal areas of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental.
The 10:37 p.m. earthquake, which also shook Cebu, was felt at a reported Intensity 7 in Tandag City (Surigao del Sur), Intensity 6 in Bislig City (Surigao del Sur), and Intensity 5 in Cagayan de Oro City, Nabunturan (Davao de Oro), and Davao City.
