The town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur has been placed under a state of calamity due to the damage caused by strong earthquakes that hit the province since Saturday, December 2, 2023.

Hinatuan is the epicenter of magnitude 7.4 earthquake with more than a thousand aftershocks.

The damage caused by the earthquake is reportedly pegged at P4 million.

“Ang plano namin i-summarize namin ang lahat yung totally damaged, at doon kami magstart, bibigyan siguro ng assistance ‘yung totally damaged para at least makarecover sila ng konti, at makapagawa ng konting shelter,” HInatuan MDRRMO Chief, Engineer Queruben Rosales, said.

The local government unit has started distributing food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), while the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has also conducted geologic survey in the town.

Most of the quake victims are still staying at the evacuation centers while others have returned to their homes.

The DSWD has already pitched tents, which accommodated around five families.

Aside from houses, one of the most damaged structures was the tower of the radar and synoptic station of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Cracks were seen in the tower’s column beam while its cables, wave guide, among others were also damaged.

“Sa ngayon wala na dahil marami pong damage sa itaas. Ino-off na muna namin ang machine, nagshut down na muna kami ng radar,” PAGASA Hinatuan Radar and Synoptic Station Chief Meteorological Officer Alan Ray Ribo said.

“Kung kaya naming makapag-observe hourly, gagawin po namin. Kapag may aftershocks lumalabas kami kaya nagkakaroon ng delay ng transmission ng mga weather observations, mga weather parameters like temperature, pressure, wind, clouds,” he added.