36 hurt in Caraga quake

MANILA, Philippines - At least 35 persons were injured due to the magnitude 5.9 earthquake that hit Surigao and Dinagat Island Friday afternoon.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga regional director Blanche Gobenciong told The STAR that most of the injured suffered minor injuries in a stampede at a mall.

Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas, who was among those hurt when three steel beams of a school gymnasium fell, ordered the hiring of structural engineers to assess the stability of establishments in the province.

A battalion of Army troops were sent to Surigao City and nearby areas to assist the victims.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) research specialist II Anthony Madrio said three aftershocks were recorded yesterday.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said there was nothing unusual in the occurrence of earthquakes in different parts of the country in the past few months.

“Earthquakes in various parts of the country are normal consequence of the country being transected by active faults,” Solidum said in a text message to The STAR. 

He said at least 20 earthquakes were recorded in different parts of the country but most were not felt.

Last Feb. 6, a magnitude 6.9 tremor struck Negros Oriental, killing more than 50 people.

A magnitude 5.2 quake also hit Masbate province on March 8, which left at least 10 persons injured.

“The different moderate-sized earthquakes in the past month are not related and caused by movement of different faults,” Solidum said.

 He said people must know what to do during and after an earthquake because there is still no way to predict when it would occur.

“It is good to memorize the words duck, cover and hold to remember how to react in the event of an earthquake,” the Phivolcs chief said. 

He also urged the public to prepare their disaster plans and emergency supply kit. – Ben Serrano, Jaime Laude, Helen Flores