Hinatuan now under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines — Hinatuan Municipality was placed under a state of calamity following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that hit waters near Surigao del Sur on December 2.

“The municipality is presently under a State of Calamity [under] Resolution No. GC-621 Series of 2023 due to the widespread destruction caused by 7.4 magnitude earthquake,” the municipal government announced on Facebook on Monday night.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Hinatuan led by Municipal Vice Mayor Tito Canedo III approved Resolution No. GC-621-2023 during a special session on December 3.

The municipal government stressed that declaring a state of calamity is an important step to help the community following the powerful quake.

It added that the state of calamity declaration will also lay the groundwork for a comprehensive recovery.

The copy of the municipal resolution shows that Hinatuan has been placed under a state of calamity following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that hit waters off the municipality on December 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy of the Local Government Unit of Hinatuan Facebook)

As of 7 a.m. on Tuesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 2,491 aftershocks in Surigao del Sur since the 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off Hinatuan.

Phivolcs also said the strength of aftershocks varied from magnitude 1.4 to 6.6.

Out of the 2,491 aftershocks, however, local residents only felt 29, according to Phivolcs.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Sunday that one pregnant woman died from the temblor, which affected 529 families, or 2,648 individuals.