DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 16 December) – The powerful earthquake that hit several parts of Mindanao at 2:11 p.m. on Sunday destroyed a two-story house and left seven others partially damaged at Purok 3, Barangay Lizada in Davao City, according to a report released by the City Information Office yesterday.
At least eight families were displaced and evacuated to the barangay gymnasium in Barangay Lizada.
The Magnitude 6.9 tremor also caused major damages to some bridges and commercial establishments in the city. The report said new cracks were found in the two condominium towers of Palmetto Place, a project of property developer DMC Urban Property Developers Inc. (DMC-UPDI), in Barangay Maa here that were condemned following a magnitude 6.5 earthquake on October 31.
It added that the Mahayahay Bridge on Diversion Road had been closed to motorists after some cracks were discovered following the tremor. Vehicles were re-routed to Matina Crossing going to McArthur Highway.
Building inspectors also found some cracks on the structures of the SM City in Ecoland; Queensland Hotel in Matina Aplaya; public market and Gaisano Grand in Barangay Tibungco; and major cracks on pedestrian bridge at Center Point in Barangay Matina.
The City Government of Davao declared a suspension of classes on Monday after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake jolted parts of Mindanao at 2:11 p.m. on Sunday, the fifth major quake to hit the island since October 2019.
An earthquake with magnitude 6.3 rattled portions of Mindanao on October 16; magnitudes 6.6 and 6.1 on October 29, and magnitude 6.5 on October 31.
In Proclamation 13, Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte directed all establishments and organizations to ensure the structural integrity of the buildings.
He said buildings that suffered structural damages would be immediately condemned.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in its Earthquake Information No. 3 placed the epicenter of the earthquake at 6 kilometers northwest of Matanao, Davao del Sur., not 9 kilometres northwest of Matanao as indicated in Earthquake Information 2. Earthquake Information 1 said the epicenter was 6 kilometers northwest of Padada town.
Intensity 7 was felt in Matanao and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; Intensity 6 in Kidapawan City, General Santos City, Bansalan in Davao del Sur, Alabel and Malapatan in Sarangani and Koronadal City in South Cotabato; Intensity 4 in Tulunan and Matalam in Cotabato province, Cotabato City, Davao City, and Glan in Sarangani; Intensity 3 in Kalilangan, Talaka, and Dangcagan in Bukidnon; Intensity 2 in Impasugong in Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City and Dipolog City; and Intensity 1 in Zamboanga del Sur.