OCD: Deaths from magnitude 6.8 quake mostly from falling debris, impacts remain “manageable”

At least seven were reported dead, two were injured, and two are missing after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off Sarangani, Davao Occidental on Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported as of Saturday.

Office of the Civil Defense spokesperson Edgar Posadas said it is still verifying the casualties, but said three deaths were already logged in General Santos; two in Glan, Sarangani; and one each in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental and Malapatan, Sarangani.

"Karamihan doon, natabunan at nabagsakan (Many of them were buried under the rubbles or hit by fallen debris)," Posadas said in an interview.

Citing the initial assessment of the OCD, Posadas noted that the impact of the earthquake was so far "manageable"—this as its regional offices were not yet asking for assistance from the national government despite the relatively strong shaking.

"They are not yet asking for any help from the national government so it's manageable. I think with the regional resources, they can manage," he said.

Posadas said the officials of the National Operations Center of the OCD and NDRRMC are ready to assist regional DRRM offices in addressing the needs of affected residents in their respective areas.

The NDRRMC has so far logged at least 60 houses in South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Sarangani were damaged while 32 infrastructure projects in Davao City, Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, General Santos City, Davao Oriental, and Sarangani were also affected.

Some 450 people residing within the Davao Region and Soccsksargen were given medical care due to panic attacks and hyperventilation.

Posadas added that 11 roads in Soccsksargen have been affected due to the earthquake, two of which are still not passable to motorists. While four bridges previously hit are now passable.

Some 21 affected areas experienced power outages. OCD reported seven power interruptions have been restored.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology previously recorded the earthquake was as strong as magnitude 7.2 and struck off the coast of Sarangani at 4:14 p.m. on Friday, with the epicenter located 34 km northwest of Sarangani Island.

The earthquake which was finally logged as a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, with a 72-km depth of focus and tectonic origin, was felt in many areas in Mindanao

Phivolcs has already recorded 63 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 1.4 to 3.9, 36 of which were plotted while 3 tremors were felt.

It added aftershocks could persist for several days to weeks, and some may be felt in nearby provinces.

Phivolcs said Sarangani, Davao Occidental, and its neighboring provinces experience earthquakes as they are situated in one of the seismically active regions in the country.

The presence of offshore active faults and trenches, including an unnamed offshore fault east of Davao Occidental and the Cotabato Trench, contributes to seismic activity.

Also, there are local faults in proximity, some potentially concealed by recent deposits capable of generating earthquakes ranging from minor to strong magnitudes.