A wall of the house owned by Estandarte family in Barangay Makaopao, Kalilangan, Bukidnon collapsed due to the eathquake. Mindanews Photo
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 12 April) – The magnitude 6.0 quake that jolted Mindanao early Wednesday morning left damages to infrastructure in the municipalities of Kalilangan in Bukidnon and Wao in Lanao del Sur, according to reports from their respective Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMO).
Francis Garcia, local DRRM officer of Wao, reported that electricity and water supply were cut off as some pipes were damaged and murky water came out of faucets.
But Jose Eric Balirea, Wao-Kalilangan area manager of the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative (FIBECO), said he dispatched two maintenance teams to check the lines in both Wao and Kalilangan. He said power was restored at 6:24 a.m. except for some parts of Wao and Banisilan in North Cotabato, which were finally energized by 6:48 a.m., restoring the power situation back to normal.
Garcia cited in his initial report that a total of 36 houses were damaged with six of them fully damaged and “inhabitable.”
The MDRRMO reported that two mosques were partially destroyed by the quake that hit at 5:20 a.m.
PHIVOLCS has already recorded 15 aftershocks as of 3:10 p.m. Wednesday.
Mark Anthony Villarias, also of the Wao MDRRMO, told MindaNews that as of 10 a.m., they have received no report of major injuries among residents aside from those who suffered bruises. But he said most of the government buildings in the town suffered minor to medium cracks.
A personnel of the local disaster office inspects damage at the wall of the Sangguniang Bayan building in Kalilangan. Mindanews Photo
He clarified that only seven of the 26 barangays have so far filed their reports so far as of this morning. Among them were the villages of Extension, Sirang, Panang, Balatin, and Park Area.
One of the biggest damages was reported in Panang National High School, especially in the second floor of a two-storey school building. Villarias said a portion of the ceiling fell, spilling debris into the ground floor through the stairs.
There were cracks in the highway along Barangay Panang, as well as the highway in Kalilangan town.
Patients were evacuated from the Wao District Hospital due to cracks in the building. Villarias said they advised hospital management not to allow re-entry into the hospital yet due to aftershocks. He said they pitched tents to shelter the patients temporarily.
The ceiling of the local branch of the Landbank of the Philippines collapsed, Villarias said, adding that there was also a report of damage to a local pension house.
He said the local officials will convene the Local Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council this afternoon. One of the things being considered, Villarias said, is the declaration of a state of calamity in the town.
In Kalilangan town, the municipal government declared the Sangguniang Bayan building as “no entry zone” due to the various cracks in the walls of the building. In the nearby municipal hall, there were minor cracks but they have vacated their offices and set up makeshift offices outside to accommodate clients, according to Jessica Gumban, public information officer and local disaster risk reduction and management officer.
A portion of the national highway in Kalilangan town in Bukidnon was damaged by the earthqauke. Mindanews Photo
She cited in her initial report that there were “minor” damages in four bridges in the town. But the LDRRMO, citing ongoing assessments, did not identify the bridges yet and did not mention if they were rendered impassable.
There were cracks on the road, with a number reported by residents like school teacher Roxanne Cabanting.
The LDRRMO reported a landslide next to the Kalilangan National High School.
Mayang Tabana, a home-based hair stylist, said she woke up to the sound of falling things in their house.
She said they were shocked by the intensity but they are “OK” now as she broke the news to a relative in Malaybalay City.
She said their television set, kitchen utensils and pots fell on the floor. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)
