7 hurt in Davao City after 6.3 magnitude quake
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — At least seven people were injured in Davao City after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake shook southern Mindanao on Wednesday evening.
The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said all of those injured were inside two big malls in the city.
Meanwhile, seven persons were also rushed for medical attention after they fainted during the earthquake.
No persons were killed or went missing in the city during the quake, the Davao City government reported.
Significant damages were documented in three shopping malls in Davao including SM Lanang Premier, SM City Davao and Ayala’s Abreeza Mall while a private residence caught fire in Dacoville, the city government reported.
Despite several efforts to inform the public that there were no tsunami alert or warning, hundreds of residents, especially those residing in coastal areas, panicked and rushed to higher ground for safety.
Bringing what they can carry, people evacuated on foot while those who were driving rushed their vehicles towards the hilly portions of Davao, causing massive traffic jams in many areas.
The city government added that the panic was triggered by false information about the tsunami, which easily spread online through social media.
Establishments and schools in the city also conducted immediate evacuation as practiced during drills, the city government reported.
“This is a good sign of preparedness, a result of massive information drive and (previous quake) drills,” the local government said. /muf
