Cotabato still feeling aftershocks after magnitude-6.3 earthquake —PDRRMO

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Catabato on Saturday said the province is still experiencing aftershocks, three days after it was hit by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake.

In an interview on GMA News' Balitanghali Weekend, Mercy Foronda said that they experienced a magnitude-5.0 aftershock at 7 a.m. on Saturday, while an earlier aftershock took place Friday evening.

"Lagi po nag babala tayo sa mga communities to just be ready and alert at all times," Foronda said.

According to Foronda, the local government cannot give yet a final figure on the cost of damage since aftershocks are still happening and the numbers still keep on changing.

"Kapag ang isang bahay ay bibigyan mo siya ng cost or estimate, then meron mga tremors time and again so magiiba yung kanilang mga estimate. So at this point in time wala pa sila binibigay na amount," she explained.

Meanwhile, Jorie Mae Balmediano, information officer at the Office of Civil Defense Region 12, said in an interview with Super Radyo DzBB that the intensity of the aftershocks keep getting weaker.

Balmediano, OCD Region 12: Humihina na ngayon yung intensity na nararamdaman natin.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) October 18, 2019

For now, the local government is focusing on providing the immediate needs of its residents, he added.

Landslide

Meanwhile, an earthquake-induced landslide took place at Tulunan, partially blocking a banayal river. According to Foronda, the Tulunan local government conducted clearing operations due to the incident.

Patients of a private hospital in M'lang were also evacuated to the municipal gym of M'lang as the hospital is being assessed.

Sanggunian Bayan and barangay halls in the area were also destroyed and declared unsafe for occupancy, including the agricultural center in Cotabato.

According to Foronda, the provincial government will conduct an assessment to see if the destroyed infrastructures can still be retrofitted, reconstructed, or would would already have to be demolished.

The decision would be up to structural engineers, he added.

Officials are still validating who among the residents will get assistance from the government and the private sector.

The destruction caused by the magnitude-6.3 earthquake prompted officials to earlier declare a state of calamity over Makilala and Magsaysay. — Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News