Earthquake damages 2 schools in Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Philippines—At least two school buildings in Hinundayan town, Southern Leyte province, will have to be condemned after these were badly damaged when a strong earthquake shook the municipality and parts of the province on Friday.

Mayor Evelyn Lee of Hinundayan said the classrooms of Plaridel Elementary School and Bugho Elementary School should not be used because there were cracks on the beams, walls and floor.

She said the 40 pupils of Bugho Elementary School would hold classes in makeshift tents while the covered court in Plaridel would serve as a temporary classroom for the pupils of Plaridel Elementary School.

A 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit the province at 7:57 a.m. on Friday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The epicenter of the quake, which was tectonic in origin, was recorded at 8 kilometers of Hinundayan. The earthquake had a depth of 6 km and likely came from the Leyte segment of the Philippine Zone Fault, the Phivolcs said.

Lee said the town sustained damage during the quake but she could not estimate the total cost.

“It was so strong that people were jolted by the quake that lasted about 10 seconds. Had it been longer, I could not imagine the extent of the damage,” Lee told the Inquirer.

The houses of at least 50 families in Plaridel and Bugho were damaged during the tremor.

The earthquake cut off or dislodged the town’s water pipes, Lee said. She assured the public that the water supply would be restored by Saturday.

Lee said the wall of their gym also collapsed.

Three bridges in San Juan and Hinundayan towns remained impassable due to damage sustained during the earthquake, according to Alan Eway, assistant engineer of the Southern Leyte District Engineering Office. At least P4 million is needed to repair the damage, he added.