SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews/ 03 Deember) — Residents in Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur returned home early Sunday morning after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lifted the tsunami alert issued after Saturday night’s Magnitude 7.4 quake.
The epicenter of the 10:37 p.m. quake was off the coast of Hinatuan.
A partially damaged house in the coastal town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur. The Magnitude 7.4 quake’s epicenter was off the coast of Hinatuan. Photo courtesy of the Local Government of Hinatuan’s Facebook page
Residents in 13 barangays evacuated to higher ground as soon as the tsunami alert was issued by Phivolcs, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said.
Judy Abrio, a staff member of MDRRMO, said in a telephone interview that residents began returning home at around 3 a.m. on Sunday as soon as the tsunami alert was lifted.
As of Sunday noon, the MDRRMO in Hinatuan was still gathering consolidated reports on damages to houses, buildings, and infrastructure. The office, however, monitored no report of injuries or deaths.
However, the Philippine Information Agency in Surigao del Sur reported on its Facebook page that a minor sustained injuries from debris when hit by cracks on the concrete wall of the Bureau of Internal Revenue building in Tandag City. The injured individual was brought to the Adela Serra Ty Medical Center.
Abrio said that based on their initial assessment, at least five houses were completely damaged, 63 were partially damaged, the gym of Barangay Aquino was totally damaged, and the Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center in Barangay Bitoon was partially damaged.
The earthquake occurred just two days after MDRRMO staff participated in a three-day Public Service Continuity Plan training organized by the regional Office of Civil Defense at Watergate Hotel in Butuan City.
The training aimed to establish service continuity in the municipality and enhance disaster risk reduction and mitigation in emergencies and unprecedented disasters.
Hinatuan Mayor Shem Garay emphasized the significance of such activities, recognizing that no one is exempt when disaster strikes. (Chris V. Panganiban / MIndaNews)
