State of calamity up in quake-hit Surigao town

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Philippines — The municipal council of Carmen in Surigao del Sur province declared the town under a state of calamity as residents started recovering from the devastation wrought by the 5.5-magnitude earthquake that struck nearby Carrascal town on July 13.

The declaration was recommended by the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council last week.

The Inquirer learned that officials of four other towns hit by the quake were planning to issue a similar measure as they collated reports of earthquake-related damage.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had placed the cost of earthquake-related damage in the towns of Carmen, Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid and Lanuza at P49.5 million.

June Aranella, Carmen municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said total damage cost in his town alone was P20.5 million.

He said 372 houses were either damaged or destroyed in Carmen.

Among the structures damaged were the town hall, barangay halls, day care centers, public market, health center and the local church. —Erwin Mascariñas