Bato dela Rosa says Mindanao quake was like a prelude to a big explosion

Parang sasabog.

This was how Senator Ronald dela Rosa described the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that hit parts of Mindanao Thursday morning.

Dela Rosa said he was at their house in Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur talking with his mother when they felt the tremor.

“Parang sasabog ‘yung bahay namin sa lakas ng lindol, hinihintay ko na sumabog e. Nasa may garahe kami kasama ko yung mother ko nagkukwentuhan kami tapos nung nag lindol e lumabas ako sa garahe at pumunta sa area na walang bubong. Nakalimutan ko ‘yung mother ko mahina na pala, hindi na makatakbo kaya binalikan ko ulit,” he told Dobol B sa News TV.

The senator said he felt an up and down ground movement.

“Yung vibration ng bahay na up and down movement na ang bilis at lakas na parang prelude to a big explosion,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Asked if it was the strongest earthquake he experienced, Dela Rosa said the tremor last Tuesday was stronger.

“Parang mas malakas ‘yung the other day na lindol kasi nasa highland area ako ng Davao City sa Eden Nature Park, nag-mountain bike kami. Nakita ko ‘yung pavement ng kalsada parang natatanggal na from the ground,” he said.

He said except for the displays that fell down and minor cracks, their house, a one-storey concrete building, is fine. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News