Davao del Sur quake leaves Magsaysay town hall in ruins

The Magsaysay town hall in Davao del Sur, which looked like it had been bombed in a war, was actually destroyed by Sunday's powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake, according to Emil Sumangil's Monday report on 24 Oras.

The building's concrete walls, glass windows, and metal furring were ravaged in the quake.

“Actually mas malakas siya, tapos iba ang galaw niya at may katagalan nang konti. Ngayon mas maraming bahay na bumagsak,” said Mayor Arthur Davin.

The local police and fire stations, municipal emergency services building, and multipurpose hall also had to be abandoned after being damaged in the quake.

Meanwhile, an elderly farmer died after suffering a heart attack during the quake.

“Paglindol, yumakap siya ng malaking puno ng Acacia. May na-ano ‘yung lindol, kinuha niya ‘yung motor niya saka niya patakbuhin papauwi, tapos natumba siya, nadaganan ng motor,” the victim’s brother Carlito Balitayo said.

The most recent earthquake was the fourth to jolt Mindanao in two months.

“Halos nanghihina na ang loob ng mga tao rito. Palakas nang palakas mula noong [October] 16, 29, at saka 31 hanggang nangyari kahapon... Sana mga kababayan natin… kailangan namin i-relocate ang mga tao,” the mayor said.

Over 1,500 families had yet to return to their homes after the temblor.

Meanwhile, traumatized residents were pleading for aid.

“Sa kalagayan namin dito, natatakot. Baka meron pang lindol na dumating kasi may banta dito na may mas malakas pa raw na lindol na darating. Natatakot kaming lahat dito, mga tao dito. Masakit talaga,” said Balitayo. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News