Two women hurt
2 earthquakes rock Davao Region
TWO women were injured after a decade-old waiting shed in front of Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School toppled down when a magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Davao City yesterday morning, February 23.
The injured were identified as Maria Teresa Pusta, 43, an employee of Dallas Energy and Petroleum Corporation and a resident of Bangkal, Davao City and Fe Yu, 66, a retired teacher who is currently residing at Kilometer 7 Kubkub, Buhangin, Davao City.
The two were waiting for a jeepney ride when the quake occurred and later sustained head injuries after the concrete shed hit them when it collapsed. The Central 911 immediately rushed the victims to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
An American national named Dan Bray who has emergency training helped the injured woman while awaiting for the paramedics team of the Central 911 to arrive.
According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the tectonic earthquake jolted around 9:50 am and its epicenter was found nine kilometers northwest of Davao City at a depth of 15 kilometers (km).
Students and employees of different institutions and establishments in Davao City secured themselves in an open ground to avoid any untoward incident.
Davao City Administrator lawyer Zuleika Lopez said that the city government of Davao mobilized the heads of the offices to take necessary action for possible cracks around the city that was possibly brought by the incident.
"We have already instructed the City Engineers Office (CEO) and the Demolition team to look at it and to all other similar structures," she said during the regular meeting of the Davao City Peace and Order Council yesterday at Grand Men Seng Hotel.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Leoncio Cirunay reminded the public to be cautious and vigilant when earthquakes happen and to remain calm and execute properly the earthquake safety procedures.
"Maging alisto kapag nakaramdam ng paggalaw ng lupa at pumunta agad sa safe nga lugar. Hindi dapat mag panic at magbantay sa pag guho ng lupa at iwasan ang matataas na building, poste or bricks galing sa taas na building or malaking punong kahoy para maiwasan ang injuries or posibling pagkamatay," he said.
Phivolcs also reported an aftershock in Davao City at 1:16 p.m. with a magnitude of 2.9 and depth of 4kms.
Meanwhile, a magnitude 4.2 quake also hit Montevista, Compostela Valley at the same time an earthquake struck Davao City. jcr