Troopers to assist Surigao Sur quake victims

MANILA, Philippines — Army soldiers have been deployed in Surigao del Sur to assist residents displaced in the magnitude 5.5 quake that hit on Saturday.

Personnel of the the 36th Infantry Battalion (IB) will assist quake victims in the towns of Carrascal, Cantilian, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza and Cortez.

“As a partner in addressing the peace and security in the province, it is also our mandate to serve and protect the people in any man-made or natural calamities,” Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad, 36th IB commander, said.

Trinidad said 46 persons were injured, eight of them hospitalized, while 206 houses and 46 establishments were damaged in the quake.

He said local disaster councils are still assessing the extent of the damage in affected towns.

The Office of Civil Defense said 826 persons in nine barangays in Carmen and Lanuza were displaced in the quake.

The Surigao-Davao coastal road in Sitio Nocol, Barangay Saca, Carrascal is passable only to light vehicles due to fallen and leaning electrical posts  and live wires.

Cracks were also observed on the walls of various buildings and infrastructure in Carmen, Cantilan, Lanuza and Madrid.

The Caraga regional disaster office transported emergency shelter units for distribution to affected families as requested by the provincial disaster council of Surigao del Sur.

The epicenter of the quake was traced in Carrascal. The tremor was felt at Intensity 6, which is classified as very strong.