5.3 quake leaves minor damage to school buildings in Camarines Norte

Cracks appeared on the wall of Guinacutan Elementary School in Vinzons town, Camarines Norte, after a magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit the province on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of OCD Bicol)

LIGAO CITY — The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that jolted Camarines Norte province on Wednesday left minor damage to at least 22 public school buildings.

The provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) said Thursday that cracks appeared on the walls of several elementary and high school buildings in Capalonga, Labo, Paracale, Sta. Elena, Vinzons, and Mercedes towns.

The PDRRMO said some students panicked and had difficulty breathing when the temblor shook the ground.

Cracked walls were also found in three barangay halls in Vinzons, the Commission on Elections office in Labo, and the Rural Health Unit building at Barangay Rizal in Sta. Elena.

In its bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake took place at 1:05 p.m. about 19 kilometers northeast of the province’s Tinaga Island. It had a depth of one km and was tectonic in origin.

Claudio Yuco, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) director in Bicol, told the Inquirer that their office had been coordinating with the affected local governments to respond to their needs after the quake.

Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD Bicol spokesperson, said they had asked the local disaster officials in these areas to assess the affected buildings and ensure they are safe for occupancy. INQ

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