Magnitude 4.0 quake jolts Surigao del Sur anew
Another earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 struck the waters off Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, on Sunday afternoon, the second earthquake recorded in the province over the last 24 hours.
Sunday’s earthquake was recorded at 2:56 p.m., originating 112 kilometers southeast of Cagwait, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The earthquake was tectonic in origin with a 12-km depth of focus.
On Saturday evening, a stronger magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the coast northeast of Cagwait at a depth of 24 km.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the two earthquakes.
‘Remain calm’
With consecutive earthquakes being reported across the country in the last two weeks, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public to remain calm. Many patients have reportedly been rushed to hospitals due to panic attacks and hyperventilation.
In a social media post on Saturday, the DOH said it was normal to feel fear, shock or worry, but stressed that it was important to remain calm and composed.
“This is why earthquake drills and disaster drills are very important, because this is due to lack of knowledge on what to do when there’s an earthquake. They don’t know what to do, so they panic,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a radio interview with dzMM on Saturday.
The DOH said it has already conducted psychological first aid to individuals who experienced extreme stress, and continues to hold mental health and psychosocial support services to those affected.
Doublet quake
On Sept. 30, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook northern Cebu, killing at least 74.
Ten days later, on Oct. 10, two earthquakes with magnitudes 7.4 and 6.9 hit Davao Oriental, with at least nine fatalities, including two who died of heart attack in the midst of the shaking.
At least 11,000 aftershocks followed the Cebu quake, while over a thousand aftershocks have been recorded since the Davao Oriental quakes.
Phivolcs said Friday’s tremblors may be considered a “doublet earthquake,” which refers to distinct or different earthquakes that occur in almost the same area “with two (or more) main shocks that have slight difference in magnitude.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) estimated the damage at P100.3 million from the Davao Oriental quakes alone.
It added that 125,283 families or 491,258 people were affected. Of these figures, 66,366 families or 280,868 individuals were from the Davao Region while 58,917 families or 210,390 were from the Caraga Region.
Messages of support
Foreign ambassadors, meanwhile, have taken to social media to express their condolences and sympathies.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson posted on Sunday that the United States has sent 137,000 family food packs and 500 emergency shelter kits as it continued to “assess additional needs in Davao Oriental.”
Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown commended “the Philippines’ response and resilience in the face of multiple disaster events.”
Japan Ambassador Endo Kazuya prayed for the recovery of the communities in Davao Oriental, adding: “In this moment of uncertainty, Japan stands with the Philippine people with hope, strength, and solidarity.”
Ambassador of Romania Raduta Matache also offered prayers for the victims.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended its condolences to the families of quake victims and said it “remain[ed] in close solidarity during this difficult time.” —REPORTS FROM KEITH CLORES, GILLIAN VILLANUEVA, GERMELINA LACORTE AND DIANNE SAMPANG
