TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE
MANILA,
FEBRUARY 7, 2012 (philstar) By
Jun Pasaylo and Dennis Carcamo - A strong magnitude-6.9 quake hit Negros
Oriental before noon today prompting authorities to raise tsunami alert level 2.
(Image from Phivolcs)
More than a dozen people have been reported killed in Negros Oriental
province after it was hit by a strong quake before noon today.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chief Benito Ramos
reported at past 4 p.m. today that a total of seven have been confirmed killed
by the agency.
Ramos disclosed that four of the fatalities were recorded in Guihulngan City,
two in Tayasan town and one more in Jimalalud.
Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, however, announced in a television
interview that a total of 11 people have been confirmed killed in the province.
He said nine of fatalities were killed in a landslide in Barangay Planas in
Guihulngan City. He added that more than 20 people remain missing.
Other reports said that at least 13 people have been confirmed killed in the
quake. The reports said that majority of the fatalities were recovered in
Guihulngan.
Guihulngan City Mayor Ernesto Reyes reported earlier that as many as 30
houses were buried by the quake-triggered landslide. He earlier reported that 29
people were missing.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) measured
the earthquake at magnitude-6.9. It said the quake, which was tectonic in
origin, occurred in waters off Tayasan town in Negros Oriental at 11:49 a.m.
with a depth of 10 kilometers.
The agency reported that the strong quake was followed by more than 40
aftershocks as of 2 p.m. The two strongest aftershocks were measured at
magnitudes 4.8 and and 5.3.
The quake was felt strongest at Intensity 7 in Dumaguete City and
Vallehermoso town in Negros Oriental. It was also felt at Intensity 6 inLa
Carlota City and La Castellana towns in Negros Oriental and Argao town in Cebu
province.
In the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS), Intensity 7 was described
as "destructive." It said that during an Intensity 7 quake, people in upper
floors may find it difficult to stand and heavy objects and furniture may
overturn or topple.
"Old or poorly built structures suffer considerable damage. Some well-built
structures are slightly damaged," the Phivolcs said in the PEIS.
The areas of Roxas City; Dao and Ivisan in Capiz; Iloilo City; Ayungon town
in Negros Oriental; Kanlaon City; Lapu-lapu City; Guimaras; Cebu City; San
Carlos City; Bacolod City; Sagay City; Tagbilaran City; Candoni and Binalbagan
towns Negros Occidental felt the quake at Intensity 5.
The quake was also felt at Intensity 4 in San Jose de Buenavista, Pandan,
Anini-y, Patnungon towns in Antique; Kalibo in Aklan province, Dipolog City,
Sipalay in Negros Occidental and Ormoc City.
It was also felt at Intensity 3 in Butuan City in Agusan del Norte; Legaspi
City, Albay; Carmen, Cagayan de Oro; Tacloban City; Catbalogan; Saint Bernard,
Southern Leyte; Masbate, Masbate; Cagayan de Oro City; Intensity 2 in Cabid-an,
Sorsogon; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Mambajao, Camiguin and Intensity 1 in
Pagadian City.
The Phivolcs raised tsunami alert level 2 after the earthquake. The tsunami
alert was lifted at around 2:30 p.m.
The tsunami warning was raised to put on alert the residents in coastal
areas, particularly in the eastern portion of eastern Negros Oriental and the
western portion of Cebu province.
"People are advised to stay away from the shoreline. People should not go to
the coast to watch the tsunami. People whose houses are very near coastal areas
in Negros and Cebu islands are strongly advised to be watchful," the agency
added.
The Philippine Coast Guard also prevented all sea vessels plying Cebu and
Negros provinces from making trips as long as the tsunami alert level was in
place.
The tsunami alert was lifted as of 2:30 p.m.
Buildings collapse, bridges damaged
Degamo reported that at least eight bridges were damaged by the strong
earthquake and three of which are not passable.
Ramos said that he received a report that the earthquake shattered several
glass panels of a shopping mall in San Carlos City.
The Associated Press reported that people rushed out of school buildings and
malls during the quake. It reported that a three-story office building collapsed
in La Libertad town ,but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
A police officer also reported that five bamboo and wooden cottages were
washed out from a La Libertad beach resort by huge waves, but there were no
reports of injuries.
Negros Oriental police chief Edward Carranza said that the temblor damaged
many houses in Guihulngan City and he ordered his men to help displaced
residents find shelter. A public market also collapsed.
Work at government offices and classes in all school levels in Negros, Cebu
and Iloilo provinces were suspended due to the strong earthquake.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
