Aftershocks increase death toll of magnitude 6.3 earthquake in southern Philippines

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

On Saturday, aftershocks of a powerful earthquake with reported magnitude 6.3 that struck southern Philippines on Wednesday night have increased the death toll of the extended event from five people to six due to a massive landslide following a 5.0 magnitude aftershock on Saturday.

On Wednesday, the strong tremor left five dead and, by early reports, at least 30 injured. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) of the Philippines increased the previous death toll to six following the landslide caused by the 5.0 earthquake. Meanwhile, the total reported casualties increased to 167 from a previous 93 injured people.

On Saturday, reports said Wednesday's quake affected the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Region 11 and Region 12. Over 2,000 residents near Mount Apo in Kidapawan City have been relocated to other villages in the city since Wednesday. 76 villages were affected according to NDRRMC report on Saturday, which figured 21 injured individuals in Davao del Sur, 36 in North Cotabato, 29 in South Cotabato and seven in General Santos City. Numbers of affected residents fear to return home due to the series of aftershocks, according to CNN Philippines.

In a situational report of NDRRMC, Wednesday's tremor damaged 143 buildings including 70 schools, 40 houses, seven health facilities, two worshiping areas, and ten commercial buildings. Rappler reported three malls in Davao City and Gaisano Mall in Digos City were damaged following aftershocks.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported the first quake occurred at 7:37 p.m. local time (1137 UTC) on Wednesday. Magnitude 6.3 according to Phivolcs, it was recorded as magnitude 6.4 by the US Geological Survey. It was followed by another earthquake an hour later; the second quake had a magnitude of 4.0 and was recorded in Sultan Kudarat. A 5.3-magnitude quake was recorded at 4:53 a.m Thursday morning (2053 Wednesday night, UTC) in Manay, Davao Oriental.

According to Manila Bulletin, Wednesday's earthquake, at 6.3, was the strongest recorded impacting Kidapawan City. Phivolcs recorded 611 aftershocks as of Saturday 8:00 p.m. (1200 UTC).

In response, many schools were closed on Thursday and after, with the provincial government in North Cotabato suspending classes province-wide. Charles Federic Plotena, the mayor of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, announced classes for students ranging from kindergarten to high school, public and private, would be cancelled, while Sara Duterte, the mayor of Davao City, also cancelled graduate and post-graduate studies.

Reportedly, at least two towns —including Makilala in the province of North Cotabato— declared a state of calamity following Wednesday's quake. Phivolcs said in its report, the western extension of Mindanao Fault makes the province seismically active, while the nearby Cotabato Trench contributes to earthquakes regionally.

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Sources

Rhodina Villanueva, Edu Punay, John Unson, Jaime Laude. "Quake death toll rises to 6" — Philippine Star, October 20, 2019
Philippine News Agency. Strongest aftershock rocks North Cotabato; Indian leader condoles with quake victims <broken link> — Manila Bulletin, October 19, 2019
Carolyn O. Arguillas. "Phivolcs: affected buildings in quake-hit areas “should not be reoccupied unless certified by engineers”" — MindaNews, October 19, 2019
John Consulta. "Quake victims in Magsaysay barangay appeal for help" — GMA News, October 19, 2019
"2 North Cotabato towns under state of calamity" — PTV News, October 19, 2019
"Magnitude 5 aftershock jolts Cotabato" — ABS-CBN News, October 19, 2019
"Situational Report No. 03 Regarding Magnitude 6.3 in Tulunan, North Cotabato" — NDRRMC, October 19, 2019 (PDF)
Mindanao quake death toll rises to 6 <broken link> — CNN Philippines, October 18, 2019
"At least 5 dead, dozens injured in Mindanao earthquake" — Rappler, October 17, 2019
Zea C. Capistrano, Malu Manar and Camcer Ordonez Imam. Twin quakes, aftershocks hit Mindanao provinces <broken link> — Manila Bulletin, October 16, 2019

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