BY NINO N. LUCES
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – A sinkhole, a landslide, and more damaged infrastructures were reported in Masbate after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck the province on Tuesday morning.
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol information officer Gremil Naz said authorities are assessing a sinkhole that was discovered in the waters off Barangay Casabangan in Pio V. Corpuz.
“Sa Pio V. Corpuz yun, papunta na po ang team ng MGB, DENR at iba pang concerned agencies para i-assess ‘yung nadiskubreng sinkhole,” he said.
A sea intrusion or flooding caused by “subsidence or liquefaction or fault movement” and high tide were reported in Barangay Matayum, Cataingan, Masbate – a coastal barangay located near the epicenter of the earthquake.
Landslide was also recorded at Brgy. Bogtong in Pio V. Corpuz town, Naz said.
Naz placed the estimated damage cost at more than P23 million.
He said that the estimated cost is based on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bicol’s assessment on damaged roads and government buildings.
“Yun pong estimated damage cost at ayon naman po sa assessment ng DPWH Regional Office 5 kung saan may mga nai-record na sira sa mga kalsada, government buildings at iba pa. Ayon naman po sa DepEd Bicol, mayroong 19 public schools ang nasira dala ng malakas na lindol,” he explained.
Naz also said that at least 61 houses were damaged by the strong quake where 26 of it were totally damaged while 35 are partially damaged.
“Nasa 11 po na pamilya o kaya 40 na indibidwal ang nasa evacuation center sa ngayon dahil na nga po nasira yung mga bahay o kaya yung iba takot sa bumalik sa mga bahay nila dahil sa patuloy na nangyayaring aftershock,” he said.
On the other hand, Naz confirmed that all roads are passable for all kinds of vehicles.
Strict health protocols are now being observed in the evacuation center of Cataingan after hundreds of families were left homeless.
