The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday said only minor damage has been reported from the magnitude 6.0 earthquake that rocked New Bataan, Davao de Oro on Wednesday night.
“Only minor damage was reported as of reporting time, the majority were residential houses,” OCD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said in an update.
He also added that affected OCD regional offices and local disaster risk reduction management offices are currently conducting the assessment, coordination, and monitoring for further developments.
“Several minor injuries were reported (exact numbers yet to be determined),” Alejandro said.
He also added that water and power supply as well as communication lines remain stable.
Alejandro also said the recent earthquake has highlighted the importance of mitigation efforts like the quarterly earthquake drills which are helpful in minimizing casualties.
“As a country prone to frequent earthquakes we would like to remind the public of the importance of the ‘Duck, Cover, and Hold’ protocols during earthquake(s) in order to minimize the effects and number of casualties,” he added.
The OCD spokesperson also reminded the public of the importance of proper compliance with the National Building Code to prevent further damage and casualties.
