Earthquake in the Philippines, more than 800 houses damaged

More than 800 homes and businesses were damaged after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook the southern Philippines on September 4. One person was injured when a wall collapsed.

A house was severely damaged by the earthquake - Photo: AFP

AFP on September 5 quoted Patrick Callanta - an official of the Civil Defense Agency in Cagayan de Oro city, saying that the earthquake that occurred on Mindanao island caused many roofs to collapse and the walls of many other houses to crack.

According to disaster officials, a total of 544 homes, shops and commercial buildings were damaged in the city of Valencia alone. This city has a population of 163,000.

In the nearby town of Maramag, 316 homes were also damaged. In Lourdes, three classrooms at an elementary school were completely destroyed.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. On the night of August 31, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s eastern coast, triggering a tsunami warning and forcing the evacuation of more than 130,000 people. The quake also triggered a landslide that killed one person in Cagayan de Oro.

Ric Mangao, a researcher at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said about 447 aftershocks have been recorded since the earthquake.

On September 3, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake also occurred off the coast of Mindanao island but caused no casualties.

According to Tuoi Tre - DT