Aftershocks continue to rattle Surigao City, forcing terrified Surigaonons to evacuate from their homes and move to higher and safer grounds.

The aftershocks persisted after a 6.7-magnitude quake struck last February 10 and left a swath of destruction.

The 6.7-magnitude quake has left extensive damage to structures in Surigao City and nearby areas, including the city’s airport and several bridges.

The city government also said that 20 percent of the city’s population has been affected by the tremor.

With the current situation, local officials appealed to residents to continue to be vigilant and stay calm.

The latest aftershock, measuring 4.6 magnitude, occurred at 5:18 p.m. Friday On Friday, a 4.6 magnitude earthquake struck again at 5:18 p.m. (Feb. 17). Its epicenter was plotted 22 kilometers (km) southwest of Surigao City, with a shallow depth of only 2 km, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) here said.

Intensity V was recorded at the city proper of Surigao and Intensity IV was also registered in Sison, Surigao del Norte, while it was Intensity III in Alegria, Surigao del Norte; San Jose, Dinagat province; and Intensity II in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.

At 7:34 p.m. that same day, a 2.8-magnitude tremor was also recorded, with its epicenter traced 5 km northeast and with a depth of 26 km.

The aftershocks were all tectonic in origin, Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs added that more aftershocks might continue in the next few days.

Chinese aid

As this developed, the Red Cross Society of China has extended humanitarian aid to the victims of the 6.7-magnitude quake in Surigao City.

The humanitarian aid of $50,000, roughly P2.5 million, was turned over by Counselor Sun Yi of the Chinese Embassy in Manila to the Philippine Red Cross Thursday.

According to the Chinese embassy, the humanitarian aid “will be adding strength to the disaster relief efforts” of the Philippine government to help the victims of the powerful quake that left several people dead and hundreds injured.

Earlier, the Chinese government extended its sympathies to the victims of the quake.

In a message of condolences sent to Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China stands ready to actively provide assistance to the Philippines.

Minister Yi expressed the Chinese government’s belief that under the leadership of President Duterte, people in the disaster area “could certainly overcome difficulties and restore normal production and life at an early date.”

Relief operations

Meanwhile, relief operations to both flood and earthquake victims in Caraga region went into high gear yesterday.

Hand-in-hand, the various disaster risk reduction and management councils (DRRMCs) of local government units (LGUs), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other line agencies of the government, including non-government organizations (NGOs), are doing humanitarian effort to reach the flood and earthquake victims in the region.

Despite non-stop rains since Wednesday, the relief operations are ongoing in 29 evacuation centers in Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Butuan City, and Agusan del Norte, housing 2,173 families or 8, 988 persons.

“We are doing our best to give the necessary assistance to different LGUs for them to feed the flood victims while our quick response teams also assisting them,” DSWD 13 Regional Director Mita Chuchi G. Lim told Manila Bulletin yesterday.

In their latest account, the DSWD 13 reported that all the 5 provinces, 14 municipalities, 1 city and 41 barangays in the region are affected by the flashfloods.

On the other hand, earthquake victims in Surigao City also received relief assistance from the government and other stakeholders.

Based on the data gathered from the DSWD regional office here, the DSWD central office already augmented 5,000 pieces of blankets (P575,000.00); 30,000 pieces of High Energy Biscuits, (P1,050,000.00); Dignity Kits, 1,000 pouches (P1,080,000.00); and Malong, 5,000 pieces (P1,250,000.00); RTE Brown Rice Bars, 3,250 bars (P107,250.00); Plastic Mats, 5,000 pieces (P750,000.00); Solar Panel 150 pieces (P225,000.00); Generator Set 10 sets (P280,000.00) and Laminated Sacks worth (P782,748.00) or a total of P6,099,998.00.

The DSWD 13 also delivered family food packs (FFPs), bottled water, and other non-food items that already reached the total amount of P3,137,220.37.

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. also shipped 30,000 food packs to Surigao City. Each box of family food pack is worth P360 and it contains six kilos of rice, four cans of sardines, four cans of corned beef or beef loaf, and six sachets of coffee.

Central Visayas DSWD-7 also sent non-food items together with the last batch of family food packs that include 5,000 mats, 5,000 mosquito nets, 5,000 blankets, 10,000 pieces malong, and 900 pre-cut laminated sacks.

Meanwhile, at least 117 families from five riverside barangays here already left their homes due to continuous rains since Wednesday.

These families who evacuated at various evacuation centers are from barangays Baan Riverside, Golden Ribbon, Baobaoan, Lemon and Salvacion. (With a report from Roy C. Mabasa)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Mike U. Crismundo

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