Two women die, mag-5.1 earthquake jolts Ormoc

Epicenter Albuera town reports no casualty, damage

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — A 5.1-magnitude earthquake that hit Ormoc City at 6:26 a.m. yesterday claimed the lives of two women—one “directly” and another “indirectly.”

Ormoc City Health Officer Nelita Navales identified the “direct” fatality as Maria Contreras Colasito, 51, of Barangay Naungan. Colasito reportedly died when she banged her head after sliding or falling down while the quake was going on.

A rescue team member also reported that 70-year-old Rosita Baloro, of Brgy. San Jose died after suffering a heart attack from her fright of the quake. Navales said Baloro was considered as an “indirect” fatality of the quake.

The Bureau of Fire Protection in Ormoc, on the other hand, reportedly rushed 20-year-old Jerelie Mercules, of Brgy. Punta, to the hospital when she fell down the stairs during the quake.

A mother of four, Priscilda Serenio, at Brgy. Milagro evacuation center was also rushed to the hospital after experiencing false labor.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter of the quake, under Intensity 5 (classified as ‘strong’), was in Albuera town of Leyte, about 15 kilometers south of Ormoc, with a depth of five kilometers.

Intensity 4 (moderately strong) was felt by residents of Pastrana town, while Intensity 3 hit Tacloban City and adjacent Palo town, said Phivolcs, adding that the epicenter was pinpointed at Brgy. Talisayan in Albuera.

Albuera Mayor Rosa Meneses yesterday confirmed that no casualty or damage were reported due to the strong tremor.

"But I already ordered my people to be always alert, and stay at safe areas for possible aftershocks. As of now, there is no evacuation being undertaken dahil wala naman nasugatan o namatay. We are so very thankful," the mayor told The Freeman.

Back in Ormoc, acting City Mayor Bennet Pongos Jr.—representing Mayor Richard Gomez who was incidentally in Manila yesterday for official business—issued Executive Order 39 suspending classes in all levels in the city to give way to the inspection of all school buildings.

There were minimal damages reported on vital infrastructures. Engineer Lino Gonzales of the 4th Leyte Engineering District, there were minimal damages reported on vital infrastructures, and that all roads and bridges were passable.

However, there were 56 houses at Brgy. Alta Vista that were reported to have incurred both superficial and serious cracks. Councilor Vincent Rama said the barangay hall there was also badly damaged. The barangay now joins the list of 13 villages that were badly affected by the July 6 quake.

In a monitoring of the 13 villages, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office reported that some "partially damaged" houses in the July 6 quake have collapsed totally after yesterday’s tremor.

Meanwhile, it was “business as usual” at the Ormoc City Hall even if all departments have to hold offices at the lobby and the ground floor. The second and third floor was declared “unsafe” yet by building officials because of collapsed ceilings, exposing electrical wirings.

City Engineer Ranie Oliveros said his men would hasten the cleanup and repair of the wirings so that the employees can return to their respective offices immediately.

City Administrator Vincent Emnas initially ordered the lock down of the Ormoc City Hall pending the assessment of building officials as to its safety. He said the building suffered more damages in yesterday’s quake than that of the 6.5-magnitude quake on July 6, and of the 5.8-magnitude aftershock on July 10.

Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr., on the other hand, co-chaired the incident command post with Pongos, and deployed city councilors and the city’s rescue units, including the radio group REACT, to monitor the quake’s damage around the city. (FREEMAN)