Death toll in magnitude-6.5 Mindanao quake reaches 5; 4 others reported missing

The number of people who died in the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on Thursday morning has reached five.

Information from the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division of the local government of Cotabato identified the fatalities as Juve Gabriel Jauod, Tessie Alcaide, Cesar Bangot, Romel Galicia and Precilla Verona who were residents of Makilala town.

Maimai Balmediano, information officer of the Office of Civil Defense 12, confirmed the number of fatalities to GMA News Online.

Balmediano also said one was injured while four others have gone missing due to the strong earthquake. She added that authorities are still collating reports about other wounded individuals following the tremor.

Earlier in the day, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said nine people were hurt when the quake heavily damaged a condominium in the city. 

Families displaced

Data from the OCD 12 also stated that a total of 1,594 families have been displaced in the region from October 29 to 31.

Damaged houses was pegged at 2,274, the OCD 12 said. It added that there were 57 schools, seven public infrastructures, nine commercial infrastructures, three health facilities and two other establishments that were damaged due to the quakes.

At present, Old Bulatukan Bridge in Makilala town is not passable to vehicles while the Cotabato-Davao Road is still being assessed by authorities.

Only one lane is passable in New Bulatukan Bridge, Dalapuay Bridge and Flortam Bridge, the OCD 12 said.

The house of President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City also sustained cracks due to the quake.

Epicenter

The quake's epicenter was in Tulunan, Cotabato, the same area where a strong tremor killed at least eight people and wounded more than 300 others on Tuesday.

Earlier in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, PHIVOLCS  science research specialist Erlinto Olavere said Thursday's earthquake happened at 9:11 a.m. and was tectonic in origin.

According to PHIVOLCS, Intensity VII was felt in Tulunan, Cotabato; Kidapawan City; Sta. Cruz, Matanao, Bansalan and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, while Intensity VI on Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Intensity V was felt in  General Santos City; Tupi, South Cotabato; Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, and Intensity IV in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat, PHIVOLCS added.

A hotel in Kidapawan City and a portion of a condominium building in Ecoland in Davao City nearly collapsed due to the quake. No one was reported to be trapped from the hotel, authorities said.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, this morning's earthquake was a separate incident from the earthquake that hit Tulanan town last October 29, which claimed the lives of at least eight persons.

The OCD 12 already raised red alert status all over the region as aftershocks are still expected. — RSJ, GMA News