8 South Cotabato city, towns, GenSan suspend classes after 6.3 quake

KORONADAL CITY –– Eight South Cotabato towns suspended classes in public and private schools Thursday to check the integrity of campus facilities following the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that jolted a large part of Mindanao Wednesday night, an official said.

Rolly Doanne Aquino, operations and warning head of the South Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the class suspensions would ensure the safety of students as the tremor could have damaged school buildings.

“We don’t want to compromise the safety of our students. The class suspensions by the LGUs were declared for the assessment of school facilities to make sure they are sound following the strong tremor,” he said in an interview.

As of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the local government units (LGUs) that suspended classes were the South Cotabato capital Koronadal City and the towns of Tupi, Tampakan, Tantangan, T’boli, Norala, Lake Sebu, and Banga.

“Our team would also inspect places of public convergence like malls to ensure these buildings are safe,” he added.

At least six persons were brought to the hospital for minor injuries after the quake struck Wednesday evening, he said.

A few others were rushed to the provincial hospital for anxiety attack but were discharged hours later, Aquino added.

In General Santos City, Mayor Ronnel Rivera also suspended classes in all school levels for the engineers to assess the safety of the buildings.

Moments after the tremor struck Wednesday evening, a fire hit the Gaisano Mall of GenSan.

Rivera said firefighters from nearby localities and the private sector were still putting out the fire as of 7 a.m. Thursday./lzb