3 persons died from Saturday’s magnitude 7.4 quake in Surigao del Sur

OPEN SPACE Residents of Barangay Bituon in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur have camped on the streets since Sunday for fear that their houses would give way to the continuing strong aftershocks caused by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck off the coast of the town at 10:37 p.m. on Saturday. (Photo by ERWIN M. MASCARIÑAS)

MANILA, Philippines — Three people were reported to have died due to the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in a report on Wednesday.

These fatalities, however, are still being validated by NDRRMC.

There were also 48 reported injuries due to the tremor.

A total of 132,615 families or 528,203 persons were affected by the quake.

Also damaged were 3,887 houses, with 3,583 being partially damaged, while 304 being totally destroyed.

There were also 266 damaged infrastructure, most of which are government facilities and schools, with an estimated cost of damage to be at 4.8 million.

The earthquake struck near Hinatuan at 10:37 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, according to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Phivolcs initially put the temblor’s magnitude to be at 6.9, but later upgraded it to magnitude 7.4 on 3:23 am, December 3.

Almost 3,000 aftershocks were reported by Phivolcs as of 5:00 am on Wednesday.