Surigao Quake Damage Cost Initially Estimated to be Nearing Php700M

The initial estimated damage of the 6.7 magnitude earthquake which hit Surigao del Norte and Surigao City on Friday evening has now reached almost Php700 million.

The number of casualties stands at 8 people and more than two hundred injured.

This is based on the Situational Report No. 11 data released by the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (RDRRMC) Operations Center which is continuously monitoring the effects of the earthquake, at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The “Red Alert Status” is still in effect at the RDRRMC Operations Center and its member-agencies.

Meanwhile, the Surigao City Council through Resolution No. 23-2017 has declared Surigao City under a “State of Calamity.”

The earthquake affected 60 barangays; 1,790 families and 9,320 individuals. Eight (8) were recorded to have died and 203 were injured.

The fatalities were identified as Robert Eludo, Jr. 40, of Purok 1, Barangay Bilabid; JM Ariar, 4, of Sitio Aton, Brgy. Ipil; Lito R. Wilson, 36; Purok 4, Brgy. San Juan; Lorenzo L. Deguino, 85, Purok 5, Brgy. Poctoy; Roda Justina Taganahan, 83, Brgy. Bonifacio; Rommel Tano, 17, Purok 3, Brgy. Anomar; and Jenelyn Ebale, 5, Purok 6, Brgy. San Juan, all of Surigao City and Wenefreda Aragon Bernal, 66, of Purok 3, Brgy. Honrado, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte.

Of the injured, 181 were outside patients, 15 were admitted in hospitals, 7 were referred to hospitals outside Surigao del Norte or a total of 203.

The Anao-aon Bridge at San Francisco, Surigao del Norte collapsed during the earthquake and is still impassable. Vehicles are being detoured to Delani Crusher in Brgy. Diaz. Malico Bridge at Daang Maharlika Road (Lipata-Surigao Section) has only one lane passable to only light vehicles.

The Daang Maharlika Road (Surigao-Ipil-Lipata Section/Surigao-Agusan Section) suffered intermittent damaged road sections. Removal of debris and clearing operations are ongoing and heavy trucks are rerouted to Surigao-San Juan coastal road.

Other national roads — the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road, Magpayang Mainit Wharf Road, Surigao San Coastal Road and Surigao Wharf Road — suffered only minor cracks and are passable to all types of vehicles.

Power supply is fully restored in the towns of San Francisco and Malimono of Surigao del Norte and Surigao City. The water supply of the town of Malimono was totally repaired but the pressure was low.

Repair is still ongoing for the Matin-ao Water Reservoir and Pipelines (Mainit town) and San Francisco Annex Water Supply (San Francisco) while the Parang-parang Source, Ima-Cananez Source and Lumaban/Balibayon Source of Surigao City are now fully restored.

Cancellation of flights is still in effect due to the damage of Surigao City airport and the damages to roads and bridges going to Lipata Ferry Terminal of Brgy. Lipata, Surigao City. All vessels as well as port operations are transferred to Surigao City Port.

Totally damaged houses in Surigao City and Surigao Province reached 143 and those partially damaged totaled 1,647. The damage to infrastructures and lifelines totaled Php 690,048,532.91 in cost. The total cost of assistance extended to Surigao City was Php 7,175,331.37.

Classes in all levels in Surigao City are suspended starting on February 13 until further notice, but there is already work in those offices or buildings which have been declared safe to occupy. (PNA)LAP/NBN/EDS